Sri Lanka has named uncapped allrounders Sachith Pathirana and Milinda Siriwardana in a new-look 15-man squad for the upcoming one-day international series against Pakistan.
The series will be the first for Sri Lanka since batting greats Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara quitting limited overs cricket following their team's quarter-final exit in this year's World Cup match against South Africa.
Jayawardene has retired from international cricket altogether while Sangakkara has announced that he will retire after two more Test matches.
Both Pathirana and Siriwardana are left-handed batsmen and left-arm spin bowlers with good first-class experience.
The 26-year-old Pathirana has played in 66 first-class limited over matches scoring 1,257 runs and taking 86 wickets.
Siriwardana is 29 years old and has played 112 matches scoring 2,049 runs. Siriwardana has picked up 77 wickets.
Experienced Tillakaratne Dilshan is in the squad that has 10 batsmen of whom four are specialist allrounders.
The first of the five-match series will be played on Saturday in Dambulla.
The squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Ashan Priyanjan, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Sachithra Senanayake, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachith Pathirana.
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