Uncapped Shehan Madushanka Included in Sri Lanka's Squad for Tri-Series

Uncapped fast-bowler Shehan Madushanka is drafted in the 16-member Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming tri-nation series in Bangladesh including Zimbabwe.

Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, and spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has also included in the squad. All-rounder Angelo Mathews has been named the new captain.

22-year old Madhushanka has played only three first-class matches but was primarily picked on the basis of pace. With Dushmantha Chameera also in the 16, Sri Lanka now has two bowlers capable of regularly touching the 140kph mark. Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha insisted on taking Madhushanka keeping the ICC 2019 World Cup in mind.

“He’s got pace, and you can’t coach that. When we go to the next World Cup, we’ll need about seven or eight fast bowlers who have played at least 15 ODIs each. We’ve chosen Madushanka as a player we might use in the long-term,” Hathurusingha said.

Chandimals’s return to the squad is also a long-term move with the World Cup in mind. Criticism hurled at Chandimal is that he bats too slowly in limited-overs cricket, and his dips in form are at times lengthy. However, Hathurusingha wants to help Chandimal to regain the spark he had shown in 2010.

He had shown some aggression in the Test arena but has rarely been seen in limited-overs cricket, such as when he hit 52 not out off 24 balls in a World Cup match against Australia in Sydney.

Mendis returns to the squad after a good stint in the domestic tournaments. He notched up 177 for Colombo Cricket Club in a first-class match in mid-December. Hathurusingha also pushed his case, as he wanted to have him in the squad.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Wanindu Hasaranga.

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