Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis return from DPL for fitness tests

By Bipin Dani  

Sri Lankan all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis have returned to Sri Lanka from playing in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, for fitness tests ahead of the tour of Bangladesh next month.   

“They gave and passed their fitness tests on Monday,” a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) source revealed.  Both de Silva and Mendis were recently hired by two franchise teams – Abhani Limited and Mohammedan Sports Club respectively – to play in the List A Dhaka Premier League (DPL) matches in Bangladesh.  

More than 80 players took part in fitness tests on Monday and almost all have passed.   

This long list included the national players to leave for the Bangladesh tour, Under-19 players and players from the Emerging squad. They underwent tests for skin folds, strength, speed and agility and endurance, it is learnt.   

Fitness tests of the national men’s team were supervised by the new head coach Chris Silverwood, whereas the young players’ tests were conducted in the presence of Ruwan Kalpage, the head coach for the Emerging squad, which is to leave on a tour of England.