Avishka fails fitness test, dropped for Bangladesh ODI series
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Dashing young opener Avishka Fernando has been dropped from the 18-man squad named for the Bangladesh series as he has failed a fitness test. Fernando, 23, missed the limited over leg of the West Indies tour after he failed to attend the mandatory 2km fitness test due to an injury.
SLC has set a time of eight minutes and 35 seconds to complete the 2km run, but Fernando has taken close to one minute more than the expected time to complete the run.
“He will not be traveling to Bangladesh but we have included him in the preliminary squad for the England series to train with the rest of the players,” chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe said.
Fernando is one of the brightest prospects in the Sri Lankan camp. During his 18-match international career, the opener has smashed two centuries and three half-centuries maintaining an impressive strike rate of over 96. The selectors have called up left-arm quick Binura Fernando in the touring party following his brilliant performance in the SLC Major Clubs Limited-Overs Tournament 2021, where he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps in eight matches for Ragama Cricket Club. He picked up 15 wickets in seven matches in the T20 competition, as well.
Right-arm quick, Shiran Fernando, who picked 14 wickets in six matches in the SLC Major Club T20 Tournament 2021, has also been included along with fast-bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne. The selectors have added 10 more players including left arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama who took a record 11 wickets in his debut Test against Bangladesh, for the preliminary squad for the England series
The 18-man squad will depart for Bangladesh on May 16 with the three ODIs to be played in Mirpur, Dhaka on May 23, 25 and 28. Following the Bangladesh tour, Sri Lanka is set to tour England for three T20Is and three ODIs. The T20Is will be worked off on June 23, 24 and 26, while the 50-over matches will be played on June 29, July 1 and 4.
| ODI team for the three-match series against Bangladesh(subject to Sports Minister’s approval):
Kusal Janith Perera (Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (VC), Dhananjaya de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Chamika Karunaratne, Lakshan Sandakan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Shiran Fernando, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Provisional squad for Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Wanidu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Shiran Fernando, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sadaken, Mahesh Theekshana, Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama | |