Sri Lanka Cricket has announced the team for the upcoming T20I series at home against Australia. Sri Lanka named an 18-member squad for their T20I series against Australia.
Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and wicketkeeper-batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa made a return to the squad. Hasaranga was initially picked for the tour of India earlier this year, but missed the T20Is due to covid, while Rajapaksa had been left out due to fitness concerns. Rajapaksa even announced retirement from international cricket earlier this year but soon took it back after discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket Board.
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Rajapaksa and Hasaranga are coming with good performances for their respective teams in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League. Hasaranga picked up 26 wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore as he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament whereas Rajapaksa scored 206 runs in nine innings at an average of 22.88.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa replaces veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal in the squad, who has been dropped following ordinary returns on successive white-ball tours of Australia and India. Along with Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Lahiru Kumara have also been dropped, while the pair of Niroshan Dickwella and leggie Jeffrey Vandersay have been picked as stand-by players for the series.
The Under-19 pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana got a maiden call-up to this series after his impressive outing in this year’s IPL for Chennai Super Kings. He has a similarly slingy bowling action to Lasith Malinga and was roped in by CSK as a replacement for Adam Milne.
Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the series:
Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan
The 3 matches T20I series gets underway from June 7.
