The Lancashire seamer has not played a competitive match since April 2021 due to a stress fracture in his back. Twenty-eight players are among the party, with four selected in both Test and ODI groups
Saqib Mahmood's return beckons after the Lancashire seamer was included in the England Lions squad for the Test and one-day international tour of Sri Lanka in January and February.
A stress fracture in his back has prevented him from playing since April 2022.
Mahmood is part of the ODI squad, having made strides towards full fitness during the pace bowler rehab programme in the United Arab Emirates in October.
Durham's Brydon Carse, part of the senior 50-over group last summer before a toe injury struck, is also part of the ODI series.
The 16-strong red-ball squad includes full internationals Matt Fisher, Haseeb Hameed and Alex Lees who were in and out of the England setup in 2022.
Alex Lees, part of the Test side last summer, gets the chance to stake a claim (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Fisher, Somerset captain Tom Abell, Tom Hartley of Lancashire and Essex's Sam Cook are included in both squads, with the travelling party comprising of 28 players.
Three members of the England side that reached the Under-19 World Cup final in the Caribbean - Jacob Bethell of Warwickshire, Tom Prest at Hampshire and Somerset's James Rew - are involved in the ODI side but there is no place on the tour for Rehan Ahmed.
Leicestershire's teenage legspinner became England's youngest men's Test player in Pakistan but is not expected to tour New Zealand with the senior side in February.
The identity of the head coach and captains of each group will be revealed in due course. Ian Bell, Jim Troughton, Jon Lewis (now England women's head coach), Neil Kileen, Min Patel, Paul Tweddle and Graeme Swann worked with the Lions in the UAE.
TEST SQUADTom Abell, Josh Bohannon, Jack Carson, Sam Cook, Matt Fisher, Nathan Gilchrist, Tom Haines, Haseeb Hameed, Tom Hartley, Jack Haynes, Lyndon James, Alex Lees, Liam Patterson-White, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh TongueODI SQUADTom Abell, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Matt Critchley, Matt Fisher, Sam Hain, Tom Hartley, Tom Lammonby, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Prest, James Rew, Luke Wood
"This is a really exciting opportunity to expose players to the challenges of playing A-team cricket in the sub-continent, which will be fantastic for their development," said ECB performance director Mo Bobat.
"The series also provides us with the chance to observe the players ahead of this year's World Cup as well as next winter's Test series in India.
"The squads have been selected with careful consideration of each player’s individual programme. We've worked closely with the counties to understand the players' best interests as we map their development opportunities. In some cases that includes enabling players to play in domestic franchise cricket."
England Lions tour of Sri Lanka fixtures
January 25-27: SLC Board XI (three-day match), RPICS Colombo (10am start local time, 4.30am GMT)
January 31 - February 3: Sri Lanka A (first four-day Test), GICS Galle (10am start local time, 4.30am GMT)
February 7-10: Sri Lanka A (second four-day Test), GICS Galle (10am start local time, 4.30am GMT)
February 15: Sri Lanka A (first ODI), RPICS Colombo (10am start local time, 4.30am GMT)
February 18: Sri Lanka A (second ODI), RPICS Colombo (10am start local time, 4.30am GMT)
February 21: Sri Lanka A (third ODI), RPICS Colombo (10am start local time, 4.30am GMT)
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