Sri Lanka Announce Squad For One-Off T20I Against India

Sri Lanka announced the 15-man squad for the one-off T20 International against India. The hosts have included leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and allrounder Dasun Shanaka in the squad with Isuru Udana and Vikum Sanjaya also getting places in the team.

Vandersay, who has not played for Sri Lanka since last year’s World T20, has played seven ODIs and as many T20Is so far while Udana has represented Sri Lanka in 8 games. Off-spinner Akila Dananjaya, who starred with the ball in the recently-concluded ODI series, is also in the team while fast-bowler Suranga Lakmal has made it to the squad too after recovering from a back complaint. Left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando who was in the Test and the ODI squad has been ignored.

Meanwhile, the hosts will be desperately hoping that a change in format changes their fortunes too as they are yet to win a single game against India in the full-fledged series so far. Sri Lanka lost the Test series 3-0 before being whitewashed 5-0 in the One-Day International series. However, they will back themselves to get the better of the Men in Blue in the shortest format of the game after their impressive performance this year.

The Islanders began the year with couple of impressive series wins in South Africa and Australia before drawing the two-match series against Bangladesh at home to keep a 5-3 win-loss record. The series will be Upul Tharanga’s first as full-time skipper.

The match will be played in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday (September 6).

Sri Lanka squad for the one-off T20I:

Upul Tharanga (c), Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dilshan Munaweera, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Isuru Udana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal and Vikum Sanjaya.