Kusal Perera ruled out from Bangladesh T20I series due to respiratory infection, replacement named

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera was ruled out from the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, the SLC confirmed on March 1. The keeper-batter is suffering from a respiratory infection and has not joined the team that left for Bangladesh on February 29.

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) announced Niroshan Dickwella as the replacement for Perera and he will join the team on Saturday, March 2.

Sri Lanka are set to play three T20Is followed by three ODIs and two Tests on their tour of Bangladesh that kicks off on March 4 with the T20Is.n Sri Lanka will be led by Wanindu Hasaranga who was named the new T20I captain for the side. He won his first T20I series against Zimbabwe and followed it up with another T20I series win against Afghanistan.

Niroshan Dickwella To Replace Kusal Perera

Team updates

Kusal Janith Perera, who was included in the T20I squad, will not take part in the series as he is suffering from a respiratory infection.
Perera did not join the team, which left for Bangladesh yesterday.
The Cricket Selection Committee has named Niroshan Dickwella… pic.twitter.com/kXUBzxmv6N

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 1, 2024

Meanwhile, Pathum Nissanka who became the first batter to score a double century in ODIs for Sri Lanka will miss out on the Bangladesh tour due to a hamstring injury. He was expected to be fit in time for the series. However, my thing did not pan out accordingly and Avishka Fernando will replace him in the side.

Meanwhile, Hasaranga will only play the last two T20Is for Sri Lanka as he was suspended for two T20Is by the ICC following his run-in with umpire Lyndon Hannibal in the third T20I against Afghanistan on February 21. Charith Asalanka who was named the vice-captain of the series will lead the side for the first two games.

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Several players were retained for the Bangladesh tour that played in the series against Afghanistan. Jeffrey Vandersay was the only addition to the 17-member side that was announced on February 28.

Veteran all-rounders Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka were retained in the T20I squad that was announced. Along with this Fernando has been added to the side on the back of his impressive performance in the first two ODIs, where he scored back-to-back fifties. Fernando played his last T20I for Sri Lanka in January 2023 and has been in and out of the side due to form and fitness.

Meanwhile, the incident surrounding Lankan skipper Wanindu Hasaranga happened in the final T20I against Afghanistan. The incident happened after the umpire did not rule a high full-toss from Wafadar Momand to Kamindu Mendis as a no-ball. Mendis had come down the track to play the ball which is why the ball was not deemed as a no-ball. Had he been in his normal position the ball would have been a no-ball and the umpire would have ruled it accordingly.

Meanwhile following Hasaranga’s outbursts against the decision, the Lankan skipper was fined 50 percent of his match fees and banned for two T20Is by the ICC.

“That kind of thing shouldn’t happen in an international match,” Hasaranga had said. “If it had been close [to waist height], that’s not a problem. But a ball that’s going so high… it would have hit the batsman’s head if it had gone a little higher. If you can’t see that, that umpire isn’t suited to international cricket. It would be much better if he did another job” said Hasaranga on the umpir’s decision.

Sri Lanka T20I Squad Against Bangladesh

Wanindu Hasaranga (capt for last game), Charith Asalanka (capt for first two games), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay

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