Sri Lanka Cricket announced 18-member squads for the both the ODI and T20I legs of the ongoing tour of New Zealand.
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Ace quick Dushmantha Chameera has missed out on both squads as he is still recovering from injury, while Kusal Janith Perera has returned to the fray in T20Is after a lengthened period out of the game following shoulder surgery and rehab. Angelo Mathews has also been brought back the ODI fold, with the ODI World Cup qualifiers looming ahead of the tournament set to be played in India later this year.
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Chameera underwent ankle surgery after he sustained an injury during the 2022 T20 World Cup. The paceman is said to be back to full fitness but is not being risked as he is still in the recovery phase.
Perera last played a T20I for Sri Lanka in November 2021, while you have to go even further back to find Mathews’ last ODI, which came in March 2021.
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Apart from the veterans, uncapped Sahan Arachchige and Lasith Croospulle have also earned call-ups. Arachchige will feature in the ODI squad, while the dashing opener Croospulle will have to battle his way into the established T20I top order.
ODI Squad
Dasun Shanaka – Captain, Kusal Mendis – Vice Captain, Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana
T20I Squad
Dasun Shanaka – Captain, Wanindu Hasaranga – Vice Captain, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan
