Kusal Mendis has been appointed Sri Lanka’s new Test captain after Dhananjaya de Silva stepped down from the role with immediate effect.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the leadership change on Thursday. De Silva said he would remain available for selection as a player.
De Silva explained his decision in a letter to the Selection Committee.
“It’s my genuine opinion that the mantle should go down to the next generation,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket welcomed de Silva’s decision to continue playing. The board also thanked him for his leadership of the Test team.
Kusal Mendis Takes Charge
Mendis has played 75 Tests for Sri Lanka and scored 4,836 runs. He averages 36.36 in the format, with 10 centuries and 23 fifties.
The 31-year-old has not previously captained Sri Lanka in a Test match. However, he has led the team in 22 ODIs and three T20Is.
Mendis already serves as captain of Sri Lanka’s white-ball teams for the upcoming Pakistan tour. Sri Lanka Cricket named him captain of the ODI squad for the tri-nation series involving Pakistan and England.
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He will now begin his Test captaincy against Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship.
Sri Lanka to Play Two Tests in Pakistan
Sri Lanka will play two Tests against Pakistan in November.
The first Test will begin in Rawalpindi on November 9. The second Test is scheduled to start in Lahore on November 17.
Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that its Pakistan tour will also include three T20Is and an ODI tri-nation series. The ODI series will feature Pakistan and England.
The Test series will form part of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.
Dhananjaya Remains Available
De Silva took over as Sri Lanka’s Test captain in 2023 and has remained an important part of the side.
He made his Test debut against Australia in 2016. He has played 69 Tests and scored 4,431 runs. He has also taken 43 wickets in the format.
Sri Lanka Cricket said it welcomed his continued availability as a player. The board also said it looked forward to his further contributions to the team.
De Silva has not featured in Sri Lanka’s ODI or T20I teams since the home series against England in January.
The captaincy change comes just weeks before Sri Lanka’s Test campaign in Pakistan. Mendis will now lead the side in his first Test series as captain.
