On the first day of the new year (2020), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the 16-member squad for the upcoming away T20I series against India. Senior cricketer Angelo Mathews, who last played a T20I in August 2018, has returned to the shortest format.
With the begin of the new year, Sri Lanka is ready to kick-off their preparation for their ultimate target of the year – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020. Australia will host this seventh edition of this tournament from 18th October to 15th November 2020.
The 2014 World T20 champions Sri Lanka is set to begin the year 2020 with the three-match T20I series against the hosts India. They will play this series from 5th to 10th January 2020 while Guwahati, Indore and Pune will host these matches respectively.
Lasith Malinga will continue to lead the Sri Lankan T20I side. Though Malinga-led the Lions lost the three-match away T20I series against the hosts Australia (lost by 3-0) as the hosts overpowered them in every game, the board has put enough faith on the experienced Sri Lankan pacer.
The 32-year-old Angelo Mathews has finally returned to the T20I squad. He last played a T20 match on 30th August 2018 (serving for Kandy as a leader), around two weeks before his last T20I game. Due to continuous fitness issues, he has missed out many T20s for more than last one year.
Among the 16-member Sri Lankan T20I squad that toured in Australia in last October, only Shehan Jayasuriya and Nuwan Pradeep have missed out the latest T20I squad for the India tour. Pradeep has been injured recently in practice and Kasun Rajitha, who also toured in Australia, has replaced him.
All-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva has also returned to the T20I squad, who last played in Johannesburg T20I against South Africa on 24th March 2019.
Sri Lanka have never won a bilateral T20I series against India. Out of 16 T20I meetings between India and Sri Lanka, the Lions won five matches, and the Indian team won 11 T20Is.
Sri Lankan T20I squad for India tour: Lasith Malinga (C), Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Oshada Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Dhananjaya de Silva, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha.
Full schedule of Sri Lanka tour of India 2019/20
(Three-match T20I series)
5th January 2020 (Night): 1st T20I – Barsapara Stadium (Guwahati)
7th January 2020 (Night): 2nd T20I – Holkar Stadium (Indore)
10th January 2020 (Night): 3rd T20I – Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (Pune)