PREVIEW - Sri Lanka face wicketkeeper puzzle in first test

GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) - Sri Lanka face a selection dilemma over their wicketkeeper as they gear-up for a tough three-test series against Pakistan starting in Galle on Saturday.

Pakistan, buoyed by their recent win in the ICC World Twenty20 and strengthened by the return of rebel stars, pose a stern test to Kumar Sangakkara in his first test series as captain.

With regular wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene out with a fractured finger, Sangakarra now faces the choice of captaining the side, batting at number three and also keeping wicket, an exhausting prospect in Sri Lanka's hot and humid climate.

There is the option of playing uncapped Kaushal Silva, a batsman with a fine first-class record, but Sangakkara is tempted to play an all rounder to give him more bowling options.

"A specialist wicketkeeper is important but then again we have two other wicketkeepers in the squad, myself and Tillakaratne Dilshan," said Sangakkara this week. "No other team has that luxury.

"We still have to wait and see how we can manage and how best to balance the team to give us the best advantage to go and win the test match.

"It could be a case of Kaushal making a debut or myself or Dilshan sharing the gloves."

If Sri Lanka do opt for a non-specialist wicketkeeper then all rounder Angelo Mathews, a 22-year-old who broke into the one-day and Twenty 20 team in the past year, will make his test debut.

Thilan Samaraweera will play in the middle order, his 50th test appearance, just four months after being shot in the thigh in a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore.