Prasad ruled out of NZ tour

Wellington - A back injury has forced leading fast bowler Dhammika Prasad out of Sri Lanka's cricket tour to New Zealand, days before the first of two Tests.

Prasad was due to lead the Sri Lanka in the attack in the first Test, which starts at the University Oval in Dunedin on Thursday. But a back injury suffered in a warm-up match against a President's XI, which ended in Queenstown on Saturday, has ruled Prasad out of the Test and subsequent five-match one-day series.

Prasad will be replaced in both the Test and one-day squads by uncapped paceman Vishwa Fernando, who joins Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal among the tourists pace options.