Wanindu Hasaranga has been chosen as Sri Lanka’s new T20I captain for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe at home, according to Sports Pavilion. Zimbabwe, after a chaotic performance in the World Cup, is returning to playing international cricket.
The T20I series against Zimbabwe will be Sri Lanka’s first international assignment since the World Cup. The islanders finished ninth in the World Cup with losses against all the top-ranked teams and Afghanistan.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board, looking to make some changes to the team, has picked a new T20I captain in Wanindu Hasaranga, who was injured during the World Cup and missed the tournament due to injury.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee headed by Upul Tharanga is planning to name 22 members of the preliminary ODI and T20 cricket squad to focus on the upcoming Zimbabwe cricket series starting on January 6.
Based on the performance of the ongoing Major Ccubs, limited to cricket tournaments, the selectors have made this selection and the five members of the selection committee will watch the major club matches and discuss with the provincial selectors to make the selections .
Wanindu Hasaranga named Sri Lanka T20I captain
EXCLUSIVE 🚨
🇱🇰 Preliminary T20 squad for Zimbabwe’s tour of Sri Lanka 2024
🇱🇰 New T20 Captain – @wanindu49
IN – @Angelo69Mathews , @BhanukaRajapak3 Akila Dhananjaya, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Untilhara are included in the preliminary squad. #sportspavilion #SLvsZIM #SLvZIM pic.twitter.com/CQi7MpzmQd
— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) December 29, 2023
After naming the 22-member team, they will reduce it to 15 members to get approval from Sports Minister Harin Fernando. Sri Lanka will play 3 ODI and 3 T20I matches in the series which is scheduled to be played at the R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
The series against Zimbabwe will also mark Hasaranga’s comeback. Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews and T20I specialists Bhauka Rajapaksa were part of the T20I squad that was announced. Binura Fernando, Nuwan Untilhara. Untilara recently got an IPL deal with Mumbai Indians and this international assignment will be a good opportunity to showcase his skills.
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Charith Asalanka was named vice-captain of the T20I team. Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka in the World Cup but was ruled out midway through the tournament with an injury. Kusal Mendis, who was named captain for the remainder of the tournament, is part of this squad as a specialist goalkeeper.
Maheesh Theeshana will once again pair up with Wanindu Hasaranga, who formed a formidable twin before Hasaranga got injured. Players like Dunith Wellalege, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana and Dusmantha Chameera are also part of Sri Lanka’s preliminary squad.
The ODI series between the two countries is scheduled for January 6, 8 and 11 and the Twenty20 series is scheduled for January 14, 16 and 18.
The team has a great chance to win the ODI and T20I series at home against the minnows after their World Cup heartbreak. Injuries, along with the poor form of key players, were the reason for the team’s lackluster performance in the tournament. Sri Lanka reached the final of the 2023 Asia Cup before the World Cup, but lost to India.
Sri Lanka preliminary squad for Zimbabwe series
Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nishanka, Nuvanindu Fernando, Sadheera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Vanindu Hasaranga, Charith Asanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Vellalage, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Mahish Theekshana, Geoffrey Vandersay, Akila Dhananjaya, Pramod Madushan, Dushmantha Chamira , Dilshan Madhusanka, Sahan Arachchige, Chamika Gunasekara, Asita Fernando.
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