Ace Sri Lankan batter Dhananjaya de Silva has been dropped from the squad for the first ODI against New Zealand which is to be played on March 25, 2023, at Eden Park. This will be the first of the three ODI matches between the two sides, who had clashed in a two-Test series earlier, won by New Zealand 2-0.
As per the news website Ada Derana, Dhananjaya de Silva refused to bat at no.7 in the first ODI match for Sri Lanka and as a result, the team management has decided to drop him from the squad from the opening match. Furthermore, it was reported that De Silva might not be considered for the remaining two One-day matches as well.
Dhananjaya de Silva made his Sri Lanka debut in 2016 and since then, has played 65 ODI matches, scoring 1393 runs at an average of 26.28 with 8 half-centuries to his name and the best score of 91.
He has also played 47 Tests with 3006 runs, 9 centuries, and 11 half-centuries at an average of 38.53. In 36 T20Is, he has scored 659 runs with 3 fifties to his name.
Rachin Ravindra And Chad Bowes Will Make Their ODI Debuts For New Zealand: Tom Latham
On the other hand, stand-in New Zealand captain Tom Latham has confirmed that Rachin Ravindra and Chad Bowes will make their ODI debuts for New Zealand in the first match against Sri Lanka at Eden Park here on Saturday.
Latham also said that Bowes will open the innings with Finn Allen while spin-bowling allrounder Rachin Ravindra will be slotted in at number 7. The match is being played for raising money for the Red Cross NZ Disaster Relief Fund.
The Black Caps were dealt a blow ahead of the first ODI with seamer Lockie Ferguson unavailable to play due to injury. Ferguson along with teammates Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips was supposed to leave for India after the first ODI, to play in the IPL where he was supposed to play for Kolkata Knight Riders.
New Zealand have announced that Ben Lister will replace Lockie Ferguson in the ODI squad.