Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Krunaratne, and Dunith Wellalage have been called up to the Sri Lanka T20I team for the first time, while Eshan Malinga has been picked up for the series against Bangladesh.
The players who missed Sri Lanka’s most recent Twenty20 International match against New Zealand more than six months ago were Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Asitha Fernando, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) released a 17-man roster on Monday, July 7.
Malinga has taken 40 wickets in his 27 T20 appearances thus far in his career, averaging 18.22. During a challenging IPL season earlier this year, the fast bowler was also one of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s more promising players. In 13 games, he took seven wickets at a 12.31 strike rate.
Charith Asalanka is leading the team, and the rest of the group is following suit. The three-match series will provide both teams a chance to start getting ready for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka in just over six months.
The series will take place in Pallekele, Dambulla, from July 10 to July 16 and end in Colombo.
Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Eshan Malinga
