The Sri Lanka Men’s ODI and T20I squad for the upcoming 3-match ODI series and 3-match T20I series against the West Indies, which will be commencing on 03rd March, has been announced.
Read More : Danushka, Bhanuka, Pathum and Dushmantha shine in selection game
The 20-member squad features 8 batsmen, 3 all-rounders, 4 spinners and 5 fast bowlers. Dimuth Karunaratne will lead Sri Lanka’s ODI side as usual while all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been appointed Sri Lanka’s new T20I skipper replacing Lasith Malinga.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Santhush Gunathilaka who had failed the Skin-fold test, have been omitted from the touring party. Meanwhile, Kusal Janith, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana and Avishka Fernando are not included in the squad due to injuries.
Uncapped players Pathum Nissanka and Ashen Bandara have got their maiden callups to the national team. Nissanka, a prolific run scorer in domestic cricket, impressed the coach and selectors during the intra-squad matches held ahead of the series where he scored two 40+ scores against Sri Lanka’s senior bowlers.
22-year old Bandara has been knocking on the selectors’ doors for some time now with some impressive performances in the Sri Lankan emerging team and A team. In the last T20 trial game, he was impressive with the bat scoring 41 runs off 31 balls.
Read : Mathews and Chandimal smash centuries in intra-squad one-day game
In addition, off spinning all-rounder Ramesh Mendis, speedsters Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka got the maiden callups to the Sri Lanka white ball squad.
Off spinner Akila Dananjaya who resumed bowling after being suspended for a year for an illegal bowling action, will be part of a national squad after 2 years. Interestingly, Dinesh Chandimal, a regular feature in Sri Lanka Test squad has also named in a white ball squad after 2 years as well.
Lahiru Thirimanne who has just recovered from Covid19 and all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva who is recovering from the injury he sustained during South Africa series will face a fitness test in the coming days and their inclusion in the Test squad will be decided on the results of that test.
ThePapare.com reliably learns that the selections have been done by a temporary selection committee comprised of Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Chaminda Mendis as the Sports Minister has not yet named an official cricket selection committee.
Sri Lanka will depart for the Caribbean on 23rd February for a full series consisting of 2 Tests, 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.
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Sri Lanka ODI & T20 Squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (ODI Captain), Dasun Shanaka (T20I Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Oshada Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka
