Sri Lanka failed miserably in last year’s India World Cup. Because of that failure, the team has made major changes in the ODI team this time. Eight changes were made to the 17-man World Cup squad for the home series against Zimbabwe. The captain has been changed. Dhananjaya de Silva has been appointed as the new Test captain.
Earlier, Kushal Mendis was announced as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain replacing Dasun Shanaka. Sri Lanka Cricket chief selector Upal Tharanga has announced the name of Wanindu Hasaranga as the T20 captain.
The all-rounder is going to lead Sri Lanka in Tests as the 18th captain. Karunaratne led Sri Lanka in 30 Tests. The Lankans have won 12 of these matches. They lost the remaining 12 matches. 6 matches have been drawn.
Test captaincy Dhananjaya is also quite fluent in cricket cricket. He played 51 Tests for Sri Lanka. In the meantime, 10 centuries and 13 half-centuries have been added to his name. He scored 3 thousand 301 runs with the bat. Captain Dhananjaya’s journey will begin with the Test against Afghanistan on February 6.
With this, Sri Lanka got three new captains in three formats within a week.
Meanwhile, eight cricketers have been dropped from the Sri Lankan national team. Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Mathisha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha. Angelo Mathews and Chamika Karunaratne, who joined the team midway through the tournament, were also left out.
Meanwhile, Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga came into the team after recovering from injuries. Akila Dhananjaya returned to the team after two years. Apart from that, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersai, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Nuyanindu Fernando and Sehan Arachige got a place in the team.
Even if Hasaranga returns, there are fears whether he will be available for the first two ODIs. Incidentally, the ODI series will start next Saturday in Colombo. The next two matches of the series will be held on the same ground on 8th and 11th.
Sri Lanka Team: Kushal Mendis (captain), Avishka Fernando, Sadira Samaravikrama, Sehana Arachige, Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Nuyanindu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage, Mahesh Thikshana, Dilshan Madhushanka, Dusham Chamira, Dunith Venthalalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersai and Akila Dhananjaya.
