Image Credit- AFP
Despite never having participated in a T20 international, left-arm spinning all-rounder Dunith Wellalage has been included in Sri Lanka’s roster for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Round-arm seamer Nuwan Thushara and top-order batsman Kamindu Mendis are also included in the 15.
Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dasun Shanaka are all included in the squad despite being elder teammates.
Wanindu Hasaranga, the team’s captain, missed the Indian Premier League due to a persistent heel ailment, mostly to ensure he was healthy for the World Cup. In the current practise matches in Sri Lanka, he has made his comeback to competitive cricket. He has batted in the first two games but has not bowled.
Players like left-arm seamer Binura Fernando, batter Kusal Perera, and opening batsman Avishka Fernando are absent. After a lengthy injury layoff, Kusal Perera failed to impress selectors, and Binura was outperformed by Thushara, who took 5 for 20 including a hat-trick in his most recent international match. Avishka also had lacklustre performances during the March trip of Bangladesh.
The top six players in the batting order are probably Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Angelo Mathews. Maheesh Theekshana and skipper Hasaranga are their anticipated first-choice spinners, with Hasaranga ready to go up the order when needed.
Though Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dilshan Madushanka are strong contenders, Dushmantha Chameera is the most likely starter in the fierce race for fast-bowling spots.
At the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka is in group D with South Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Netherlands. On June 3, they take on South Africa in their opening match of the competition in New York. On June 8, they go to Dallas to play Bangladesh. They play the Netherlands and Nepal in their final two group matches on June 12 and June 17 in Florida and St Lucia, respectively.