Kusal Perera dropped as Sri Lanka name 15-strong squad for Zimbabwe Test tour

Suranga Lakmal returns to the side in his place after missing last month's trip to Pakistan through illness

• Visit the Sri Lanka hub
• Nine uncapped players named in Zimbabwe squad

Kusal Perera has missed out on a place in the 15-man Sri Lanka squad that will play two Tests against Zimbabwe in Harare later this month.

The batsman did not figure in the XI during the team's two-Test trip to Pakistan in December after averaging just 6.00 against New Zealand at home in August

Perera has now only twice reached double figures in red-ball cricket since securing a remarkable one-wicket victory over South Africa last February with an innings of 153 not out in Durban.

The 29-year-old's omission is the only change from the squad that lost 1-0 during Pakistan's first home Test series in 10 years, with seamer Suranga Lakmal returning to Mickey Arthur's setup having recovered from a bout of Dengue fever. 

Zimbabwe had earlier added nine uncapped players in a 25-man provisional squad for the series, which is set to commence on January 19. 

Sean Williams will lead the hosts in their first Test action since the ICC lifted a suspension against the board in October last year following the retirement of long-term skipper Hamilton Masakadza.

Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Embuldeniya, Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Thirimanne

Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.