Sri Lankan selectors have announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 which will be held in India next month.
The speedsters Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara who were not named in Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup 2023, have returned to the side after recovering from the injuries.
However, Sri Lanka will miss the services of their pace spearhead Dushmantha Chameera as he was unable to recover from the shoulder injury he picked up during Lanka Premier League 2023.
Sri Lanka’s main spin weapon Wanindu Hasaranga has not been included in the 15-member squad as he is still in the process of recovering from an injury. As per the SLC communique, his recovery will be monitored, and if he is declared fit to play, he will be considered as a replacement in the event of an injury to a squad member during the tournament.
The selectors have named a like-for-like replacement for Hasaranga, bringing in leg-spinning all-rounder Dushan Hemantha to the squad. The off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana who injured his right hamstring during Sri Lanka’s Super Four clash against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023 has returned to the side.
The batting department will remain as the same as during the Asia Cup squad, with Sri Lanka’s most experienced current batter Angelo Mathews who had an impressive outing with both bat and ball during the recently concluded Lanka Premier League has failed to make the cut.
In addition to the main 15-member squad, the selectors have named the seaming all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne as a travelling reserve.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will kick off with the defending champions England taking on New Zealand on the 5th October at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Sri Lanka will play their first game of the tournament against South Africa on the 7th October at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. Sri Lanka will also play two warm-up games prior to the tournament against Bangladesh and Afghanistan on the 29th September and 3rd October respectively.
Sri Lanka Squad
Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera (wk), Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana
Travelling Reserves – Chamika Karunaratne
