Sri Lanka cricket has announced its preliminary squads for the home series (3 ODI’s and 3 T20I’s) against Zimbabwe, under new captaincy Kusal Mendis leading the ODI side and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga leading the T20I side.
Batter Charith Asalanka has been appointed as the vice-captain across both formats.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga will mark his return to international cricket after lapse of almost 6 months after sidelined since sustaining an injury in the Lanka Premier League in August, subsequently ruling him out of the Asia Cup and the Cricket World Cup.
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the following preliminary squads selected by the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee, focusing on the Zimbabwe Tour of Sri Lanka. The final squads for both the ODI and T20I squads will be selected out of the below-given preliminary squads,” said a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Sri Lanka will host Zimbabwe in three ODIs followed by as many T20Is in January, to be played at the same venue, the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
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.
Preliminary T20I squad:
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Pathum Nissanaka, 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.