Sri Lanka announce 20-member T20I squad for Australia tour

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Selection Committee has named their 20-member squad that will be travelling to Australia for the upcoming five-match T20 international series. Dasun Shanaka is all set to lead the side while Charith Asalanka has been promoted to the vice-captain role after some consistent performances across formats in the last year. The series is scheduled to start on February 5 and will go on until 20th February for the fifth and final T20I game.

Meanwhile, the one year ban on Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella were lifted two weeks before by the Sri Lankan cricket board. The three cricketers had breached the bio bubble last year during the tour to England and actions were taken against them immediately. Kusal Mendis was named in the squad for the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe while Gunathilaka has now returned as well for the T20I series.

Sri Lanka has brought back all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga who was rested for the home series against Zimbabwe while most of the squad members have been retained from the recent series. Kamindu Mendis who did a decent job against the African nation has been left out while experienced campaigners Avishka Fernando and Lahiru Kumar have been named in the squad.

Here’s the Sri Lanka squad for the Australia tour

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka(C), Charith Asalanka(VC), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando

Meanwhile, Australia has rested David Warner and Mitchell Marsh for the Sri Lanka series as the 15-member squad was announced recently. Ben McDermott got his reward for having a wonderful season with the bat for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL 2021-22 while the trio of Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins will be back together. The Sri Lanka side has performed well of late and should impose a lot more challenge to the Australian side than in the last few series.