An ankle injury has forced Ajantha Mendis [Images] out of Sri Lanka's [Images] squad to tour Bangladesh this month, Sri Lanka Cricket said on Thursday.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was picked as a replacement for Mendis in a 15-member squad for the two Tests starting December 26.

However, Mendis will play in a three nation one-day international tournament involving Zimbabwe as the third team, the statement said.

Mendis made his debut for Sri Lanka this year and had quickly established himself as a strike bowler in both tests and limited overs cricket.

In July, he broke a 62-year record for the most number of wickets in a three-match debut series, beating England's [Images] Alec Bedser's previous best of 24 wickets.

Herath, who has taken 35 wickets in 13 Tests, played his last Test against the West Indies [Images] in March.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardene [Images] (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Malinda Warnapura, Michael Vandort Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan [Images], Prasanna Jayawardena, Chaminda Vaas [Images], Muttiah Muralitharan [Images], Rangana Herath, Dammika Prasad, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara.