On Friday (19th July), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the 22-member squad for the upcoming home bilateral ODI series against Bangladesh.
Soon, Bangladesh national cricket team will tour Sri Lanka for the three-match ODI bilateral series. This ODI series will run from 26th July to 31st July 2019. R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (Colombo) will host all the three day/night ODI matches of this series. It is going to be the first international cricket assignment in Sri Lanka since the Easter bombings last April.
Meanwhile, the upcoming home ODI series will be Sri Lanka’s first international cricket assignment after their journey in the recently concluded 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. In that 2019 CWC tournament, Sri Lanka finished in the sixth position with eight points.
Ahead of the upcoming ODI series, Bangladesh will play one 50-over Tour match against SLC Board XI on 23rd July. P. Sara Oval (Colombo) will host this day/night warm-up game. Apart from announcing the 22-member ODI squad, the SLC has also announced the 15-member SLC Board XI squad. The wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who missed out the 15-member CWC squad, will lead the SLC Board XI squad.
Dimuth Karunaratne will continue his leadership role; Dinesh Chandimal once again missed out
Dimuth Karunaratne, who led the Sri Lankan side in the recently concluded 2019 CWC, will continue his leadership role in ODI cricket during the upcoming home ODI series.
Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan have made their comebacks in the ODI squad for the upcoming ODI series. All of them missed out the 15-member CWC squad.
Pacer Nuwan Pradeep has returned to the national squad. Pradeep played three matches in the 2019 CWC before chickenpox forced him to be dropped from the national squad in the late of that tournament. Kasun Rajitha, who replaced Pradeep in the World Cup squad, is also in the ODI squad.
Dinesh Chandimal has once again missed out the national squad. Earlier, the national selectors didn’t select him for the World Cup squad. Chandimal led the Sri Lanka national cricket team until last October.
Among the World Cup members, Milinda Siriwardena, Jeffrey Vandersay, Suranga Lakmal and Jeevan Mendis have missed the ODI squad for the upcoming home series.
SLC Board XI’s 15-member squad (for the tour match): Niroshan Dickwella (Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Oshada Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dhananjaya, Amila Aponso, Ramesh Mendis.
Sri Lankan 22-member squad for the home ODI series against Bangladesh: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanidu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Thissara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lahiru Madushanka
The full schedule of Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka in 2019
23rd July 2019: 50-over Tour Match (D/N) – SLC Board XI vs Bangladesh – P. Sara Oval (Colombo)
26th July 2019: 1st ODI (D/N) – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (Colombo)
28th July 2019: 2nd ODI (D/N) – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (Colombo)
31st July 2019: 3rd ODI (D/N) – R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (Colombo)