Sri Lanka, on Friday (March 17), announced their squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against New Zealand. Both the teams are currently involved in a two-match Test series. New Zealand is leading the series after winning the first Test in Christchurch.
Following the Tests, the ODI series will begin on March 25 in Auckland before the T20Is get underway on April 2. Sri Lanka have recalled their former captain Angelo Mathews for the ODI team after a long gap of two years. Mathews last played an ODI for Sri Lanka in March 2021.
He has also been named in the T20I squad, having last played a T20I way back in March 2021. Apart from Mathews, Kusal Perera has also earned a recall after nearly two years. The hard-hitting batsman has also been named in both the squads. Perera has not played for Sri Lanka since 2021. His last ODI appearance came in July 2021 while the T20I appearance came in November.
The senior players have been included in the squad following Sri Lanka’s poor display in the ODIs against India in January. With the ODI World Cup to be played this year, there were calls to include experienced players in the team.
Sri Lanka’s T20I and ODI squads:
Apart from the senior duo, the Islanders have named uncapped batsmen Lasith Croospulle and Sahan Arachchige in the T20I and ODI squad respectively after recently impressing against England Lions. Nuwanidu Fernando is also in line to make his T20I debut after being named in the squad while Matheesha Pathirana could make his ODI debut.
Among players who have been dropped from the squad that toured India a couple of months ago are Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Nuwan Thushara and Jeffrey Vandersay.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead Dushmantha Chameera will be unavailable for the series after recently undergoing ankle surgery. He was expected to complete his rehabilitation in time for the series but the progress has not been satisfactory. Pathirana will be his replacement for the ODIs while Pramod Madushan will replace him in the T20Is.
Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana.
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