Sri Lanka on Tuesday announced their 16-man squad for the upcoming T20I series against world champion India. Charith Asalanka will lead the team succeeding Wanindu Hasaranga who stepped down after Sri Lanka’s forgettable campaign at the recent T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka are hosing India for six white-ball matches staring with a three-match T20I series that gets underway from July 27.
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Sri Lanka exited the world cup in the first round itself after managing to win just one of their four Group D matches also featuring South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal. Their only win of the campaign came against the Netherlands while one match was abandoned due to rain.
Following the tournament, allrounder Hasaranga resigned as captain citing best interests of the team. India series will be Sri Lanka’s first assignment since the world cup.
The experienced Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva – both part of the world cup squad – have been dropped from T20Is while the likes of Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Janith Perera have been recalled.
The T20Is will be played on July 27, July 28 and July 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The T20Is will be followed by an ODI series with all three matches to be played at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka had earlier named Sanath Jayasuriya as the interim coach for the tour after the resignation of Chris Silverwood.
“Sanath with his wealth of international cricketing experience is well positioned to guide the national team, until we find a permanent solution.” SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva had said.
Jayasuriya is counted among the all-time greats, known for his aggressive batting.
Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis. Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando
