The Sri Lanka off-spinner Akila Dananjaya was reported for a suspect bowling action during the first Test against England.
The match officials’ report handed to the Sri Lanka management cited concerns about the 25-year-old’s action, which will be scrutinised further under the ICC process laid down for international cricket.
Dananjaya is required to undergo testing within 14 days but he is permitted to continue bowling until the results are known.
The chances of Dananjaya being selected for the Kandy Test had already been reduced, because he had a wretched game in Galle, where he took two for 183 in the match and scored only eight runs in two innings.
Definitely out of the remainder of the series is the captain, Dinesh Chandimal, because of a groin injury. Charith Asalanka, who scored an unbeaten half-century against England in a warm-up match, has been called up as a replacement.
England, who arrived in Kandy in time to mark Armistice Day in the gardens of their hotel, have taken the unusual step of trimming their party in the middle of the tour.
Ollie Pope, the 20-year-old batsman from Surrey, will leave Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the first day of the second Test and head for Dubai. There he will join the Lions tour in the UAE and he will be available for the unofficial Test match against Pakistan A. It starts on 18 November and is followed by five ODIs and two T20s.
With Jonny Bairstow returning to fitness and Joe Denly also available the chances of Pope being required for the Tests have dwindled to practically zero. He will gain far more benefit from playing in the UAE than batting in the nets and carrying drinks in Sri Lanka.
“It is important Ollie is playing and the selection panel felt that to aid his development the best course of action is for him to play for the Lions in a competitive series against Pakistan A,” Trevor Bayliss said.
The England coach added: “Ollie needs some game time before the West Indies Test tour early next year and will get more out of playing competitively for the Lions. He will get the opportunity of playing up to eight matches across all formats in the UAE.”
