Nidahas Trophy won't lose its shine in absence of star Team India players: Thilanga Sumathipala

Ssri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are not perturbed by Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to rest the senior cricketers. Meanwhile, BCCI has decided to send a relatively young squad for the Nidahas Trophy, with Rohit Sharma leading the pack.

Further, Nidahas Trophy will mark the 70 years of Sri Lankan independence. It is a triangular T20 tournament involving Bangladesh, India, and host Sri Lanka. The tournament will kick start from March 6 with Sri Lanka taking on India.

BCCI selectors have rested captain Virat Kohli and the other limited-over specialists like MS Dhoni (on his request), Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya for the upcoming tournament.

Not playing with individual cricketers:

Meanwhile, SLC chief Thilanga Sumathipala maintained they are playing with India, not individual players. Further, he believes that the tournament will not lose its gloss with the absence of star players.

“Sri Lanka is playing against India and not with the individual players,” Sumathipala said. “We have also kept Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Lasith Malinga away,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has done well so far in this year winning three consecutive series across the formats.

Mortaza not willing to come back:

However, star Bangladeshi cricketer Mashrafe Mortaza is not ready to come out of T20I retirement. Previously, BCB chief urged Mortaza to come out of retirement. Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan will comeback from injury to lead the side in Sri Lanka.

“Our team has no Mortaza. He has not been considered because he showed no interest in spite of the request by the BCB chief,” the source said to Deccan Chronicle. “The team has no bunch of new players. Our team is struggling in T-20s and therefore relatively experienced players are picked,” he added.

However, Courtney Walsh will act as the interim coach for the Bangladesh side in Sri Lanka.

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