Sri Lankan selectors have named a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifier Tournament 2023 which begins on 13th June in Zimbabwe with 8 warm-up games.
Veteran batters Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews were recalled to the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, however, Mathews was dropped after the 1st ODI while Karunaratne stroked back-to-back fifties in the series to seal his spot in the squad.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, who replaced Mathews in the 2nd and 3rd ODIs, played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s series levelling win in the 2nd ODI and retained his place in the squad.
Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga have returned after injury and both had positive returns in the last two ODIs vs Afghanistan.
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The wicket-keeper batter Kusal Janith Perera was unable to find a place in the final squad because he is yet to recover from a hamstring injury. Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ashen Bandara, Dilshan Madushanka and Avishka Fernando, who were all part of the India ODIs earlier this year have been left out as well.
Sri Lanka Team will head to Zimbabwe on 10th June in a bid to secure one of the two remaining slots for the format’s showpiece event in India later this year.
Sri Lanka Squad: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Kusal Mendis (Vice-Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha
