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Sri Lanka’s national cricket selectors yesterday named a 25-member squad in preparation for the limited-overs series against India, which begins on July 13.

According to reliable sources, the selectors have also named all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as the new captain for the series with Dhananajaya de Silva as the vice-captain. The squad has to be approved by the Sports Minister.

Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka was among the first to agree to sign Sri Lanka Cricket's tour contracts for India series PA Images via Getty Images — Dasun Shanaka was among the first to agree to sign Sri Lanka Cricket’s tour contracts for India series PA Images via Getty Images

Sri Lanka’s Selectors Named Dasun Shanaka As Skipper And Dananjaya de Silva As His Deputy

Dasun Shanaka is set to be named Sri Lanka’s new men’s limited-overs captain, replacing Kusal Perera who himself had only had the job since May. The captaincy switch is only partly a consequence of on-field performance.

All-rounder Dasun Shanaka is all set to replace Kusal Perera as the captain of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs team ahead of the ODI and T20 series against India, beginning July 13. The 29-year-old, who is an explosive batsman and a seam bowler, will become Sri Lanka’s sixth captain in less than four years if he gets the job.

Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Kusal Perera had captained the side at some point since the start of 2018. Dasun Shanaka had led the national team when it managed to clean-sweep Pakistan in a three-match T20I series in 2019.

Although Sri Lanka has comfortably lost all three series that they played under Kusal Perera, the board and selectors have replaced him after he was deemed to have played a central role in the contracts standoff between the players and board, over the past few months.

Dasun Shanaka Performed Well In England Tour While Dhanajaya de Silva Is A Useful Middle Order Batsman

Dasun Shanaka has performed well in the recent past and was one of the few outstanding players during Sri Lanka’s tour of England. He also had some experience in leading the national side to victory over Pakistan in 2019.

Earlier, Dasun Shanaka was selected for the tour of the West Indies but could not make the tour due to a Visa delay. Meanwhile, Dhanajaya de Silva has been named Vice-Captain of the Sri Lanka Team for the first time.

He is a useful middle-order batsman and played a fighting knock of 91 in the second One Day International against England at The Oval. Oshada Fernando and Nuwan Pradeep have been left out of the squad while uncapped players Lahiru Udara, Lahiru Kumara, Ashen Bandara, Kasun Rajitha, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa were added to the squad.

Sri Lanka Squad (subjected to approval): Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Dhananjaya de Silva (Vice-Captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Ashen Bandara, Lahiru Udara, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.