Sri Lanka has called-up uncapped Chamika Karunaratne on Monday (January 28) for the second and final Test against Australia to be played from February 1 at Manuka Oval in Canberra.

The 20-year-old, who led Islanders at the Under-19 level, will join Lanka’s pace-bowling department in Australia after Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera were ruled out of the Canberra Test with injuries during the pink-ball Test at The Gabba in Brisbane recently.

While Chameera, who toured Australia as a replacement for Nuwan Pradeep who ruled out of the tour with a hamstring injury before the series, picked up an ankle injury in the Gabba, Kumara sustained a hamstring injury, which is expected to take up to six weeks to heal, resulting the duo had to return home to undergo a rehabilitation program to get fit again.

Meanwhile, Kumara is highly doubtful for the first Test in South Africa starting February 13 in Durban, while the extent of Chameera’s injury and his return is yet to know.

The injury crisis in the ranks forced Sri Lanka to pick Karunaratne for the crucial Test despite his average 34.16 with the ball in first-class cricket, though, he was impressive against Ireland A, picked up 3 for 99 and scored an unbeaten 100 in Hambantota recently.

Sri Lanka Squad:
Dinesh Chandimal(c), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Dimuth Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne

(With AFP Inputs)