Mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya and opening batter Avishka Fernando made their returns to the 50-over set-up as Sri Lanka introduced a 17-player squad for the ODI leg of their white-ball home series against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
The series holds prime significance for Sri Lanka Cricket as it marks the daybreak of a brand new period underneath the management of Kusal Mendis. While Kusal has led the staff earlier, this can be his first series after being introduced as full-time ODI captain.
The Upul Tharanga-led choice committee has made a plethora of modifications as it has proven the door to as many as eight gamers who represented the nation on the ODI World Cup in India lately.
Kasun Rajitha, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dusan Hemantha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne and Chamika Karunaratne have made approach for Wanindu Hasaranga, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando and Sahan Arachchige.
Barring Chamika, a travelling reserve for the marquee match, the opposite seven gamers who’ve been omitted, performed within the 10-team occasion.
The chief selector, Tharanga, opened up, specifically, in regards to the Dhananjaya de Silva’s snub. The former Sri Lanka opener talked about that Dhananjaya “should aim to bat in the top order in club matches” to face an opportunity of staging a comeback into the ODI set-up as the choice committee feels that he can provide significantly better returns whereas batting within the prime three.
“We feel Dhananjaya de Silva can perform better in the top three, where he has time to bat longer. We’ve spoken to him about this as well and told him that even in club matches he should aim to bat in the top order. So if he is to make it back into the side it’ll be in the top three,” Tharanga was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Sri Lanka’s ODI squad:
Kusal Mendis (c), Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga (topic to health)
