COLOMBO — Sri Lanka all-rounder and former skipper Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi next week with a calf injury, but the uncapped Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva and Lahiru Gamage are in the squad.

Middle order batsman Silva could be given the chance to make a late Test debut for his country at the age of 28, along with fast bowler Gamage, who is a year older. Silva was called up by Sri Lanka last year, but did not play.

At 22, wicketkeeper-batsman Samarawickrama is the youngest of the trio but has represented his country at the under-19 level.

Opener Kaushal Silva is back in the squad for the first time since January. The 31-year-old has not been called up since his first-ball duck against South Africa at the Wanderers on Jan. 14.

Lahiru Thirimanne will add experience to Sri Lanka’s batting lineup in the absence of the injured Mathews after being given the nod for the first time since the tour of England in June last year.

There was also a recall for seamer Suranga Lakmal, who missed the second and third tests against India last month with a back injury.

Sri Lanka will be hoping for a better showing in the two-Test series with Pakistan after being whitewashed 3-0 by India at home last month, in what was one of the most one-sided test series of recent times.

The first Test against Pakistan begins on Sept. 28. The second starts on Oct. 6 in Dubai and will be played in the new day-night format.

Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Vishva Fernando and Lahiru Gamage.

Morale strengthened

Sri Lanka cricket coach Nic Pothas said Thursday a series of thumping defeats by India had strengthened resolve and even boosted morale as the squad seeks redemption against Pakistan later this month.

The islanders were handed a drubbing on home soil against India, losing all nine games against the formidable tourists in a humiliating whitewash across all three formats of the game.

Pothas said the whitewash had bolstered spirits ahead of Sri Lanka’s two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches against Pakistan.

“That (defeat) actually makes morale even stronger,” the former South Africa international told reporters ahead of the squad’s departure to the United Arab Emirates (UAE.

The squad had been instructed ahead of the first Test to put negative publicity out of mind as Sri Lanka’s press mauls the poorly performing side.

“They are writing bad stuff about you. You have a choice. That happens to athletes all around the world... If someone shoots a bullet at you, you can wimp away or say ‘You are completely wrong’,” Pothas said.

In July, Sri Lanka lost a three-match ODI series on home soil to bottom-ranked Zimbabwe, hot on the heels of its early exit from the Champions trophy in England.

Tempers boiled over as Sri Lanka lost the ODI series against India in August in three straight matches, with fans booing the home side and lobbing bottles.

But Pothas said the squad had bounced back and was training solidly in the run-up to the Pakistan tour. — AFP