Dasun Shanaka will lead the Sri Lanka team for the five-match T20I series against Australia while Dinesh Chandimal might be the keeper in place of Niroshan Dickwella.
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The Sri Lanka cricket team will embark on a five-match Twenty20 International series against Australia starting on February 11. Dasun Shanaka, who hit a century in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, will continue being the captain of Sri Lanka. However, the team sees the notable addition of Dinesh Chandimal into the team. Chandimal, who last played a Twenty20 International against Ireland in the ICC World T20 2021 in Abu Dhabi, has enjoyed limited success in the format. In 61 matches, he averages 19 with a strike-rate of 104 with just six fifties.
However, Chandimal’s experience in Australia is being counted and that is why the squad has no place for Niroshan Dickwella. Apart from Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka were also included in the team for the Australia series. All three players were suspended for six months due to the bio-bubble breach in the series against England. However, their suspensions were lifted just last month.
There is no place for Dhananjaya de Silva and Bhanuka Rajapaksa. The case of Bhanuka Rajapaksa is curious. He had announced his retirement but then decided to change his decision. He has apparently not been picked for fitness reasons.
Read – Bhanuka Rajapaksa Announces Retirement at Age of 30
The likes of Gunathilaka and Mendis have been rewarded for their excellent showing in the Lanka Premier League. Gunathilaka was the leading run-getter with 476 runs at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 144. Shanaka and Mendis were also impressive. However, Dickwella seems to have lost out to Chandimal, who averaged 41 and had a strike rate of 129 while finishing games for Colombo Kings.
Chandimal has a good record in ODIs in Australia, averaging 43 with five fifties and a century. The squad has plenty of fresh faces in Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Nuwan Thushara, and Shiran Fernando.
The pace bowling line-up will consist of Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, and potentially Nuwan Thushara. The spin bowling department is strong, with Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Ramesh Mendis.
The five-match Twenty20 International series will be played in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne. The initial matches were moved away from Queensland due to the strict coronavirus quarantine rules.
Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dusmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando
February 11: Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney Cricket Ground
February 13: Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney Cricket Ground
February 15: Australia v Sri Lanka, Manuka Oval
February 18: Australia v Sri Lanka, Melbourne Cricket Ground
February 20: Australia v Sri Lanka, Melbourne Cricket Ground
