Upul Tharanga was named as the Sri Lanka T20I captain for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh which starts on Tuesday.
Saifuddin earns maiden call-up for T20I series against SL
Mohammad Saifuddin received his maiden call-up to the Bangladesh squad for the two-match T20I series against Sri Lanka which starts on April 4…
Tharanga leads the Lankan T20 unit for the second consecutive time after regular skipper Angelo Mathews was ruled out of the series due to a calf injury.
Surprisingly, star batsman Kusal Mendis who was named as the man-of-the-series in the ODIs has been left out of the T20I squad while Thisara Perera who had a fairly good return to international scene scoring two half-centuries has been named in the 16-man squad.
“Kusal Mendis has got a long career ahead of him and we do not want to burden him with too many things. He had a very good Test and ODI series against Bangladesh and at this stage we don’t want him to alter too many things in his game,” Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya told the media.
Angelo Mathews ruled out of Bangladesh T20Is
Angelo Mathews will be unavailable for the Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh with a calf injury, Asanka Gurusinha, the Sri Lanka Cricket Manger, confirmed yesterday…
Wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Janith Perera has been named in the squad subject to a fitness test on Monday morning and if he fails the test, Sandun Weerakkody will take his place. Niroshan Dickwella was not considered for selection due to injury.
Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana who was a part of the Australia T20Is and Banagladesh ODIs has been left out of the squad while top order batsmen, Danushka Gunathilake and Shehan Jayasuriya have been named.
As expected, Lasith Malinga will lead the bowling unit along with the experienced Nuwan Kulasekara and T20 specialist, Isuru Udana.
Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Upul Tharanga (Captain), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Janith Perera (subject to fitness), Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Vikum Sanjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sandun Weerakkody (If Kusal fails fitness Test)
