Next month, the Sri Lanka cricket team will play three ODI matches against Zimbabwe and then three T20I matches. This will be the ‘Lankan Lions’ first game since their turbulent 2023 ODI World Cup campaign.
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is set to host all of the white-ball series’ games. On Saturday, January 6, the first ODI will take place. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has released the preliminary squads for both the ODIs and T20Is. Interestingly, 22 players were chosen for the T20Is, but 21 players were listed in the preliminary ODI team. SLC stated in a statement that players listed in the preliminary squads will be selected for the final squads.
Hasaranga will lead in T20Is, while Mathews will play in T20Is; Mendis will lead in ODIs.
Wanindu Hasaranga will be in charge of the T20I setup, while Kusal Mendis has been named the ODI squad’s skipper. Both versions have named Charith Asalanka as the vice captain. It is noteworthy that Hasaranga missed the ODI World Cup in 2023 due to a hamstring injury. Moreover, Dasun Shanaka, who has led Sri Lanka in both ODI and T20I cricket since July 2021 and September 2019, respectively, has been selected as a regular player in both squads. This concludes his time as Sri Lanka’s captain.
All-around specialist Angelo Mathews, who was dropped from the ODI team, was selected for the T20I team. March 2021 marked the player’s final Twenty20 international match. In the ODI World Cup, Mathews was substituted for the injured Matheesha Pathirana after being left out of the starting lineup.
Sri Lanka’s preliminary squad against Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka’s preliminary ODI squad: Kusal Mendis (C), Charith Asalanka (VC), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Gunasekera
Sri Lanka’s preliminary T20I squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (C), Charith Asalanka (VC), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Kusal Janith Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana
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