- Nuwanidu, Dunith notable omissions
Sri Lanka selectors on Friday (7) recalled hard-hitting middle-order batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa with pace bowler Eshan Malinga being in line to make his One-Day International (ODI) debut, as they named the two white-ball squads for the upcoming ODI series and tri-series also involving Zimbabwe in Pakistan.
The Sanath Jayasuriya-coached side left the country last morning (8) after taking part in religious observances at the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Headquarters in Colombo.
Rajapaksa, 34, last represented his country in the shortest format against New Zealand in Nelson at the start of this year, but was subsequently ignored by the Upul Tharanga-helmed panel for two bilateral series and the Asia Cup in the UAE.
However, this time around he has found favour with the selectors, thanks to some explosive batting in the recent SLC T20 Tournament in which he struck 163 across four innings.
With Charith Asalanka’s team struggling for firepower in the middle order in recent bilateral series, it will be interesting to see whether the southpaw with 44 caps will be able to cement his place in the run-up to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup next year.
Malinga, 24, despite having turned out in six T20Is for his country, is yet to enter the 50-over format. In all probability, he could feature in the three-match ODI series against the hosts after being named as the standby for the injured Dilshan Madushanka.
Madushanka has been ruled out of the tour as he is yet to recover from a knee injury, with left-arm pacer Matheesha Pathirana also being ruled out of the tri-series. The latter too is recovering from an upper respiratory tract infection and has been replaced in the T20 squad by fellow pacer Asitha Fernando.
Uncapped middle-order batter Pavan Rathnayake, 23, has also been named in the ODI squad, being rewarded for long-term domestic form rather than for his recent performances.
Meanwhile, two notable exclusions from the tour party are batter Nuwanidu Fernando and all-rounder Dunith Wellalage.
Fernando, despite having top scored in the SLC T20 Tournament, is unfortunate to miss out on the Pakistan series. Wellalage, however, has redeemed himself somewhat by being asked to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup in Doha later this month, with Fernando also being a part of that squad.
Pakistan will go into the bilateral ODI series and T20 tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe after featuring in an all-format series against South Africa at home, with Sri Lanka heading into the contests following a one-and-a-half-month respite from international cricket.
In the meantime, former white-ball skipper Dasun Shanaka has been made the deputy to Asalanka in the T20I squad.
Sri Lanka’s ODIs are slated to be played in Rawalpindi on Tuesday (11), Thursday (13), and Saturday (15). These are to be followed by the tri-series from 17 November in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the final scheduled for 29 November.
(JK)
SL ODI squad to Pakistan
Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Udara, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, and Eshan Malinga
SL T20I squad to Pakistan
Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka (Vice Captain), Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, and Eshan Malinga
Tri-Nation T20I Tournament with Pakistan and Zimbabwe
- 17 Nov.: Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi
- 19 Nov.: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi
- 22 Nov.: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan in Lahore
- 23 Nov.: Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe in Lahore
- 25 Nov.: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe in Lahore
- 27 Nov.: Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan in Lahore
- 29 Nov.: Final in Lahore