Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 2017: Upul Tharanga Continue To Lead Hosts In Angelo Mathews Absence
Apr 3, 2017 at 2:20 PM
The stand-in captain Upul Tharanga has been retained as the skipper of Sri Lanka team following the unavailability of Angelo Matthews, who has been ruled out of the T20 series due to a calf injury.
Meanwhile, selectors have also dropped Kusal Mendis from the squad while Shehan Jayasuriya and Danushka Gunathilaka have made a comeback to the side.
Thisara Perera, who last played a T20I against Australia in 2016 has been recalled riding on his good form of in recently concluded ODI series.
Batsman Sandun Weerakkody has been kept on standby for Kusal Perera, whose participation the two-match T20I series is subjected to fitness. The wicket-keeper has to pass a fitness test to be available for the series.
Sanath Jayasuriya, the chief selector Sri Lankan cricket team has said Kusal Mendis has been dropped from the team, as the selectors want him to focus on his career ahead.
“Kusal Mendis has got a long career ahead of him and we do not want to burden him with too many things. Jayasuriya said. “He had a very good Test and ODI series against Bangladesh and at this stage, we don’t want him to alter too many things in his game,” Jayasuriya said.
The first of the two T20I matches of the series will be played on April 4, whereas, the second game of the series will be played on April 6. Both the games will be played in Colombo.
Sri Lanka squad: Upul Tharanga (C), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera (subject to fitness), Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Vikum Sanjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya. Standby: Sandun Weerakkody.