Asitha Fernando signs new County Cricket deal

December 20, 2024 at 8:01 PM

Glamorgan County Cricket Club has announced the signing of Sri Lankan International Right arm Medium fast bowler Asitha Fernando.

Fernando will be joining Glamorgan for the first seven Vitality County Championship games of the 2025 Season subject to a No-Objection Certificate from Sri Lanka Cricket.

A frontline bowler in all three formats of the game, Fernando will add firepower to the Welsh County’s attack.

Fernando made his International debut in Sri Lanka’s One Day International against Zimbabwe in July 2017 then made his Test debut against South Africa in January 2021.

In the second match of the May 2022 series against Bangladesh, he took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket with figures of 6/51 in the second innings which were preceded by four wickets in the first innings.

He made his T20I debut on 1 September 2022 against Bangladesh.

Most recently in August 2024, Fernando took his second five wicket haul (5/102) in the second Test against England at Lord’s becoming only the second Sri Lankan bowler following Rumesh Ratnayake to have his name etched onto the Lord’s Honours Board. This lifted him to 8th place in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings. He then went on to take 17 wickets in three matches with a 24.64 average.

Commenting on his move to Glamorgan, Fernando said: “I would like to thank Glamorgan Cricket so much for this opportunity. I am extremely thrilled to be a part of Glamorgan and to return to the County Cricket scene this year.

My last stint helped me to improve my game a lot. I am looking forward to playing with Mason, Colin and all of the Glamorgan team, and am hoping to do my very best during the upcoming season.”

Glamorgan Director of Cricket, Mark Wallace said: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome a bowler of Asitha’s quality to Sophia Gardens for the start of the 2025 season.

Asitha has good experience of conditions in the UK having played County Cricket previously and also while performing very well in Sri Lanka’s series with England here last summer.

We look forward to Asitha taking the field for Glamorgan as the first Sri Lankan player to represent the Club.”