Five uncapped players named for Zimbabwe series
Dinesh Chandimal was in prime form at the LPL; Niroshan Dickwella is being pushed to play in Tests
Five uncapped players are in the ODI side for the three-match series against Zimbabwe but selectors for various reasons have dropped as many as 10 players from the side that played Sri Lanka’s last ODI series against South Africa last year.
Kamil Mishara, Kalana Perera, Chamika Gunasekera, Nuwan Thushara and Janith Liyanage are in the 18-man squad named for the series against Zimbabwe, scheduled to start next Sunday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium but players of the calibre of Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga and Akila Dananjaya have missed out.
Among others sidelined are Kamindu Mendis, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Madushanka, Pulina Tharanga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who just retired from international cricket. Opening batter Mishara, 20, and seamer Gunasekera, 21, were part of the Test team named to play West Indies last month but are yet to make their international debut. While both have shown promise, they have little experience even at domestic level, having featured in nine and 11 list A matches respectively.
Janith Liyanage, 26, comes into the side after an impressive run at the Lanka Premier League (LPL) where he was adjudged the emerging player of the tournament. Thushara is a right-arm seamer with a sling-arm action akin to bowling great Lasith Malinga. He helped Galle Gladiator’s reach the finals by clinching 12 wickets. Former Thomian cricketer Perera is a left-arm seamer and is included mainly for his promise than his past performances.
Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga have been left out as they were nursing injuries but the exclusion of Dinesh Chandimal, who was in terrific form during the LPL scoring 277 runs in nine games with a strike rate of over 150, has raised many eyebrows. Chandimal was among the seniors initially sidelined from white-ball cricket when selectors decided to try out new faces. He fought his way back to the side during the home limited-over series against India and became a part of the Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign. But little success at the qualifying stage saw him being benched throughout the main draw. He turned around his fortunes during the LPL, scoring 277 runs in nine games with a strike rate over 150.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket has lifted the one-year international cricket ban enforced on Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka for breaching the bio-secure bubble during Sri Lanka’s tour to England last summer, making them available for national duty. The Sunday Times learns the selectors are considering the inclusion of Mendis and Gunathilaka into the squad to strengthen batting, provided they comply with fitness standards.
Mendis was the highest run-scorer during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and could play the dual role of wicket keeper-batter during the series. Gunathilaka, who announced his retirement from Test cricket with just eight games under his belt this week, also had a decent LPL tournament. Dickwella is Sri Lanka’s No 1 choice for wicket-keeper in the longer format and is expected to play the National Super League starting January 20 as his chances of making into the ODI side look grim.
Dasun Shanka will retain the captaincy if he is allowed by doctors to compete after recovering from Covid 19. The participation of Dushmantha Chameera, though included in the side, will also depend on medical advice as he too is recovering from the virus. Jaffrey Vandersay has earned a recall after three years and will fight for a place in the playing XI along with Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrema and Maheesh Theekshana.
Probable Squad: Dasun Shanaka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Minod Bhanuka, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ramesh Mendis, Praveen Jayawickrema, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara. Chamika Gunasekera, Kalana Perera