UNCAPPED WANIDU IN SRI LANKA SQUAD
SL vs Zimbabwe ODI Series
Swho ri Lanka yesterday retained only nine of the 17 players
travelled to England for the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this month with uncapped Wanidu Hasaranga called up to the 13-member squad for the first two One Day Internationals against Zimbabwe and Akila Dananjaya in the fray to add to his solitary ODI cap.
Upul Tharanga, who was suspended for two games because of a slow over rate during the first match of the Champions Trophy against South Africa also returns to the team, with all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka and fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera also earning recalls.
Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s best batsman in the format in 2016 was among those who missed out, along with Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna and Suranga Lakmal.
Sri Lanka Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha said Chandimal’s omission came out of a need to try new players, and that he was in the selectors’ plans for the last three matches.
“We only selected a side for the first two games. We’re looking at different combinations and that’s one of the reasons we have picked this team to play in Galle which will be different to Hambantota. We decided that if we are bringing in any youngsters in we wanted to make sure we had some senior players as well. We didn’t want to bring four or five youngsters into the team. That’s one of the reasons. We went with the combination (of Danushka and Upul Tharanga) and that’s the only reason he was left out of these first two games, and we haven’t decided the players for the last three games. He is in our plans,” Gurusinha said.
Gurusinha added that 19-year-old Hasaranga’s potential in all three departments had convinced selectors to pick him for this series.
“Wanindu has been playing well. He’s one of the best fielders in Sri Lanka right now. He’s batting well and in form. And he’s got that option of leg-spin bowling. That’s one of the reasons we picked him.
That’s why we picked him and we want to give him chances of playing with senior players. Especially this side with Angie (Angelo Mathews), Upul (Tharanga) and Lasith (Malinga) in there, it’s one of the best ways of getting some of these young guys into the team,” Gurusinha said.
Meanwhile, Captain Angelo Mathews said that he was pleased with the squad selected for the first two matches, on June 30 and July 1.
“I’m satisfied with the squad that has been named for the first two matches. Wanidu is an all-rounder who has done well during the domestic tournament. Zimbabwe is team we can’t take easily, and we hope to play well against them. Sri Lanka Squad: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratna, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Pradeep, Lasith Malinga, Dushmanatha Chameera and Lahiru Madushanka.