Colombo: Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan spinner, will miss the two-Test series in Bangladesh, which begins on December 26, after injuring his ankle while bowling for Army SC in his first match of the domestic season against Tamil Union last weekend.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was picked as a replacement for Mendis in a 15-member squad for the two Tests starting on December 26. However, Mendis will play in a three nation One-Day International tournament involving Zimbabwe as the third team, the statement said.
Mendis made his debut for Sri Lanka this year and had quickly established himself as a strike bowler in both tests and limited overs cricket.
In July against India, he broke a 62-year record for the most number of wickets in a three-match debut series, beating England's Alec Bedser's previous best of 24 wickets.