SLC name 23-member preliminary squad for Bangladesh tour

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has picked 23-member preliminary squad for the ODI tri-series in Bangladesh next month which also involves Zimbabwe. This will also be the first assignment of Chandika Hathurusingha who is set to take over as the head coach of Sri Lanka. Nic Pothas will continue to be the assistant coach after being with the team in their recent torrid times. However, the players have also been requested not to play domestic cricket after returning from the ongoing tour of India.

The team from island nation is in the middle of the poor run currently and have only managed to win a solitary game throughout their tour of India. In the recently concluded 2nd T20I, they were literally trounced by Rohit Sharma and Co. and plundered 260 runs in 20 overs. It is being expected that the new coach would do wonders for the cricket in the country and he desires to spend quality time with the players ahead of the tri-series in Bangladesh.

Selectors keep faith on the same lot of players

The selectors have decided to continue backing the same lot of players which has travelled India. Lasith Malinga has not been included once again and it seems that his international career is on its way to end following poor returns consistently. The likes of Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal who are not part of the ODI squad against India have also been picked. SLC released the statement confirming the news which had also stated that the players won’t participate in the domestic cricket tournament and instead train with the coach from December 28.

“The players were asked not to play domestic cricket following a request made by the Head Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and we complied to that,” said Mr Thilanga Sumathipala the president of SLC according to the statement released. It also read that the coach wants to spend some time with the players before touring to Bangladesh. The tri-series is all set to commence on January 15 which will go on until 27th of the same month. Each team will face the other twice during the series after which the top 2 sides will lock horns in the final for the ultimate glory.

Here’s the 23-man squad: Thisara Perera (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samrawickrama, Nuwan Pradeep, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan, Chaturanga De Silva