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ToggleOn Saturday (24th August), the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming home T20I series against New Zealand.
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It will be the three-match T20I series that will be played on 1st, 3rd and 6th September respectively. Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy) will organise all these matches of this series.
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Like their last T20I assignment against the hosts South Africa, the captain and vice-captain have remained the same for the forthcoming series. The 35-year-old Lasith Malinga will lead the T20I side in this series. Meanwhile, the wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella will play the deputy captain role in this series.
Sri Lanka squad: nine players have lost their places from the previous T20I series
From the last T20I series squad (16-member), nine players have been missed out for the upcoming T20I series. Apart from the captain and vice-captain, Akila Dananjaya, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan and Isuru Udana have retained their spots.
The 25-year-old spinner Akila Dananjaya has recently faced report for a suspected bowling action. However, he is currently eligible to play international cricket until the ICC suspends him for his illegal bowling action report. Earlier, last February, he modified his bowling action after facing a similar report which forced him to face a little ban from cricket.
Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal etc. are some important names who have missed out the T20I squad.
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The selectors have once again ignored Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal for the T20I format. Mathews played his last T20I against South Africa at Colombo (RPS) on 14th August 2018. Meanwhile, Chandimal last time played a T20I match against England at Colombo (RPS) on October 2018.
Full Sri Lankan squad for the upcoming home T20I series: Lasith Malinga (Captain), Niroshan Dickwella (wk/vc), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Madushanka.
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Sri Lanka vs New Zealand upcoming three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka
1st September 2019: 1st T20I – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy)
3rd September 2019: 2nd T20I – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy)
6th September 2019: 3rd T20I – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy)