Sri Lanka announce T20I squad for Bangladesh series

The news of Sri Lanka’s premier batsman being dropped after a successful One-Day campaign might come as a shock to many fans from the island nation. He was nominated as the Man of the Series in the recently concluded One-Day series against Bangladesh. The right-handed batsman amassed as many as 160 runs in the three outings with an average of over 53.

The Chairman of selectors of Sri Lankan cricket Sanath Jayasuriya stated that Mendis is a classical player who has been successful in the Test cricket as well as one-dayers. The administration does not want to overburden the right-hander with the rigours of modern day cricket and modify his batting methods.

“Kusal Mendis has got a long career ahead of him and we do not want to burden him with too many things. He had a very good Test and ODI series against Bangladesh and at this stage, we don’t want him to alter too many things in his game” said the former Sri Lankan opener.

The other player who missed out on the squad for the upcoming T20 series against the Tigers was the left arm spinner Sachith Pathirana. Jayasuriya believed that the Sri Lankans already have Siriwardene in their arsenal. This move was also supported by the fact that Bangladeshis have left-handers in abundance to combat the off-spin of Pathirana.

“We already have a left-arm spin option in Milinda Siriwardene. If you take the Bangladesh line-up they have too many left-handers as well”, Jayasuriya further added.

Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Matthews miss out due to fitness issues. Matthews is currently nursing his calf injury which he picked up during the South African series and has been out of action since January.

After a dismal performance with the bat, Chandimal was axed from the T20 squad which matched up against the Australians. Chandimal makes the cut into the squad after a decent show with the bat in the ODI series against Bangladesh. The others who make into the squad are Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Lasith Malinga, Shehan Jayasuriya and Danushka Gunathilaka.

Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Upul Tharanga (c), Dinesh Chandimal (wk),  Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera (subject to fitness), Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Vikum Sanjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan and Shehan Jayasuriya.