Roy Dias hunts for quality
Sri Lanka ‘A’ team Coach Roy Dias is confident of his team’s chances in the upcoming tour of India despite missing two key players due to injury. Seamer Dushmantha Chameera and young left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, though named in the squad have been ruled out as they are yet to gain full fitness following injuries.
Embuldeniya–who played a leading role in Sri Lanka’s historic 2-0 triumph in the Test series dislocated his figure during the series while Chameera has aggravated his back injury. Veteran spinner Malinda Pushpakumara has replace Embuldeniya in the side while the selectors are yet to name a replacement for Chameera.
“The youngsters have a great chance of performing during the Emerging tour of South Africa, so without being rushed back in to this tour they can concentrate on that tour” said Dias at a press conference held at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters on Friday. Dias, a former Sri Lanka head coach is undertaking his first assignment as Sri Lanka ‘A’ Coach since being appointed early this month.
The team will be led by Ashan Priyanjan. He will have the luxury of an experienced squad which include players such as Niroshan Dickwella and Akila Dananjeya who were excluded from the World Cup squad.
The team will play two four-day matches and five limited over encounters from May 25 to June 15.
“We have been training very well in the past two weeks. The selectors have named plenty of senior players, who have prior international experience. Both the squads (four Day &one day) are well-balanced and we are determined to do well in India” skipper Priyanjan said.
He also said that the team is confident of competing against a quality opponent like India.
According to the Vice President of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Ravin Wickramaratne this squad is one of the strongest ‘A’ team squads that he has seen over the past few years.
“This time we have a balanced squad, a mixture of youth and experience. This tour is an important tour for the ‘A team. All the players that are in the squad have done well in domestic cricket and they are on the verge of representing the National team. This is the future of Sri Lanka cricket,” Wickremaratne said.
Former Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal who was excluded from Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad has not been considered for selection following a request made by the player. “ We had a conversation with Chandimal and he told us that he will be going to England for a county stint. We thought it would be beneficial for his career, but we don’t know whether he is playing for a team, but we took his word and decided to omit him from the squad” He said.
Meanwhile Head Coach Dias said that he expects Akila Dananjaya to come good during the series. Dananjaya–a promising spinner lost out on a place in the World Cup team after his remodelled bowling action failed to produce results for the national team.
“Akila is confident about performing in India. Piyal Wijethunge will be accompanying us on tour. He will be working with Dananjaya closely to help him to make his comeback to the National team,” Dias added.
The team will be leaving the island on 20th May 2019.
FOUR DAY SQUAD
Ashan Priyanjan (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sangeeth Cooray, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara
ONE DAY SQUAD
Ashan Priyanjan (Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Ishan Jayaratne, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara