Sri Lanka name Charith Asalanka as stand-in skipper for first two Bangladesh T20Is

Charith Asalanka has been named as Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain for the first two Bangladesh T20Is in the absence of their regular skipper Wanindu Hasaranga who is serving a two-game ban. 

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), any player who reaches four or more demerit points within a two-year period will reshape points into a suspension.

The incident took place at the Rangiti Dambulla International Stadium when Hasaranga approached and squeezed out criticism regarding a full-toss decision that was not given.

With respect to the squad that will be on the flight to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka have recalled Jeffrey Vandersay who last game an international T20I game back in February 2022. The wrist-spinner has played 14 T20Is having bagged seven wickets. Pathum Nissanka, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained during the series against Afghanistan is out and has been replaced by Avishka Fernando. 

Fernando comes into the squad on the back of two fifty-plus scores in his last three international games. The opening batter last played a T20I game in January 2023 against India in Rajkot. 

Sri Lanka have been on a purple patch after a disappointing ODI World Cup in India. The Island Nation beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in both ODIs as well as T20Is. After Afghanistan flew to Sri Lanka for a multi-format series, they were taken down in the one-off Test and were whitewashed in the ODIs. They also won the T20Is 2-1 after taking the first two games and will look to continue the good run when they travel to Bangladesh next month. 

Schedule for BAN-SL T20Is:

1st T20I: 4 March, Sylhet
2nd T20I: 6 March, Sylhet
3rd T20I: 9 March, Sylhet

Sri Lanka squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (C, 3rd T20I), Charith Asalanka (C, first two T20Is), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay.