Sri Lanka ODI squad for India series announced
Published - 30 Jul 2024, 06:27 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:16 AM
Charith Asalanka will lead Sri Lanka in the upcoming ODI series against India. Sri Lanka Cricket announced the 16-member squad with the southpaw named the captain of the side.
Kusal Mendis who led Sri Lanka partially in the ODI World Cup after Dasun Shakana was ruled out due to injury is also a part of the side. 24-year-old Nishan Madushka, an upcoming prominent batter for Sri Lanka, has been added to the squad.
The three-match series will be played in Colombo after the end of the T20I series. The three matches will be played on August 2, 4, and 7 at the R Premadasa Stadium.
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Sri Lanka Announce 16-Member Squad
The Squad
1) Charith Asalanka- Captain
2) Pathum Nissanka
3) Avishka Fernando
4) Kusal Mendis
5) Sadeera Samarawickrama
6) Kamindu Mendis
7) Janith Liyanage
8) Nishan Madushka
9) Wanindu Hasaranga
10) Dunith Wellalage
11) Chamika Karunaratne
12) Maheesh Theekshana
13) Akila Dananjaya
14) Dilshan Madushanka
15) Matheesha Pathirana
16) Asitha Fernando
Sadeera Sararawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Janith Liyanage, Akila Dananjaya and Chamika Karunarate were the players added to the ODI squad. The lies of Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana and Waninsu Hasaranga continue to be a part of the ODI squad as well.
Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando and Matheesha Pathiraa are the only three pacers in the squad. The pace attack looks weak with the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando and Nuwan Thusara injured. While Fernando and Thusara have injury concerns, Chameera is yet to recover from a respiratory infection.
Veterans all-rounders Dasun Shanaka and Angelo Mathews are not a part of the ODI squad. Mathews has been out of the ODI side since the ODI World Cup. On the other hand, Shanaka does not look in the best of form as he was out for ducks in the first two T20Is against India.
The Sri Lankan squad announced for the India series was approved by Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Harin Fernando. Interestingly, Dinesh Chandimal, who was included in the T20I squad was not named in the ODI squad for Sri Lanka.
The squad is a proof of the transformation within the Sri Lankan team as well. A few veterans are close to retiring from the game and the management and the selectors are in process of identifying who can be their next white and red-ball captains.
Sri Lanka under Wanindu Hasaranga did not win a single match in the T20 World Cup 2024. It led to Hasaranga stepping down as the T20I captain of the side. Before him, Shanaka led the side in white-ball cricket and did a decent job winning the Asia Cup 2022. However, Sri Lanka's performance in the ODI World Cup led him to vacate his place as well.
Charith Asalanka retained as the captain for the ODI series is a sign that the board and the management are looking for some continuity in leadership. So far in the first two T20Is against India, Asalanka 's leadership has not been good. He has failed as a batter as well to deliver when the team needed runs from him.
The ODI series now gives him a chance to avenge the T20I series loss and beat a dominant Indian team at home. A few days ago the Sri Lankan women's side under Chamari Athapaththu defeated India in the final of the Women's Asia Cup. The men's side can take some inspiration from them in this ODI series.
