Charith Asalanka returns to Sri Lanka T20I captaincy for the England tour
Dasun Shanaka celebrating the fastest hundred off 39 balls in CPL history
Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka the two replacements
- Binura Fernando also misses out on England T20I series
- Four players to join T20I squad in England from the Caribbean
- Shanaka warms up for series with fastest century in CPL history
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Kusal Mendis who was named captain for the two white ball series in England has been ruled out of the three-match T20I series along with left-arm fast bowler Binura Fernando.
Both players are recovering from injuries and have yet to prove their fitness by playing in a match.
Charith Asalanka who was named vice-captain for the T20I and ODI series will lead Sri Lanka in the three T20I matches against England commencing 15 September at Southampton. The second and third matches will take place at Cardiff (17 September) and Manchester (19 September).
Asalanka returns to the T20I captaincy after being ditched from the job for a combination of poor form and his hesitance to play on during Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan last year citing security concerns.
Mendis and Fernando have been replaced in the 16-member squad by Pavan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka. Both these players were named in Sri Lanka’s ODI squad to England, but will now have the opportunity to play in both formats.
By naming Mendis captain for England as it was pointed out in these columns, the selectors were taking a gamble as he had not conformed to their policy of playing in a match before being considered for selection coming back from an injury.
Saner counsel seems to have prevailed and Mendis has been quite rightly been kept behind to prove his fitness at least before the three-match ODI series which commences on 22 September.
Mendis suffered a right hamstring injury during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and has been undergoing rehabilitation at the High Performance Centre (HPC). He is expected to play for SSC in the Major Club 50-over and T20 tournaments next week.
Fernando, who sustained a back injury during the LPL, has also been undergoing rehabilitation at the HPC and has not played a match yet. As he is part of only the T20I squad he will miss the tour to England.
Sri Lanka’s T20I squad will leave for England today with the ODI squad due to follow on 18 September.
Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are due to join the T20I squad in England from the Caribbean where they are currently taking part in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Shanaka set ablaze the CPL on Thursday, by slamming the fastest century in the tournament’s history – off 39 balls for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who defeated St Lucia’s Kings by a whopping 137 runs – the biggest margin of victory in the CPL. Shanaka’s strike rate of 281.39 was also the highest for a century in the CPL. In his innings of 121* off 43 balls Shanaka slammed 8 fours and 12 sixes, with 4 sixes and a four coming off the final over of the innings. Amongst the bowlers who took a beating from Shanaka’s broad bat were Sri Lankan team mate Maheesh Theekshana who went for 48 runs, Matthew Forde, Joshua Bishop, Keon Gaston and Roston Chase.
T20I Squad (revised): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka.
