Sri Lanka announce Nidahas Trophy squad
Keeper-batsman Kusal Perera has returned to Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the Nidahas Trophy after an injury layoff. The Nidahas Trophy is a tri-series also involving India and Bangladesh, and will take place in Sri Lanka between 6-18 March.
The left-hander, who has scored 816 runs in 30 T20Is at an average of 27.20, suffered a side strain during the recently concluded ODI tri-series involving Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. He has since proved his fitness in domestic T20 cricket, where he scored 64 and 43 in two innings leading up to the squad announcement.
Perera's replacement in the tri-series squad, Dhananjaya de Silva, has been recalled to the T20I squad for the first time since January 2017. The omission of Niroshan Dickwella, who was dropped for the second T20I against Bangladesh, indicates Perera may slot straight back into the starting XI and keep wicket, taking the gloves from captain Dinesh Chandimal.
Fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, who took a hat-trick on ODI debut in that tri-series final, has been left out after injuring a hamstring in the course of claiming 2/23 in Sri Lanka’s second T20I win over Bangladesh.
All-rounders Asela Gunaratne and Angelo Mathews have both been ruled out by injury, withrotator cuff and hamstring injuries respectively.
Amila Aponso and Jeffrey Vandersay, two non-playing members of the squad for the Bangladesh series, have been omitted, while Lahiru Kumara and Sadeera Samarawickrama were both included in a 20-man preliminary squad but didn’t make the final 15.
Experienced fast bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep have both been recalled – they have 72 Test caps between them, set against 14 T20I appearances. The former has been named vice-captain, despite having played just nine T20Is.
Sri Lanka squad:
Dinesh Chandimal (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera (wk), Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal (vc), Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya De Silva