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The anticipation surrounding the upcoming T20 World Cup reaches as Sri Lanka unveils its 15-man squad for the highly anticipated tournament. The squad announcement sparks discussions and speculations about the composition, strengths, and misses-outs. However the squads can be changed until 25th of May. Let’s dig into Sri Lanka’s squad that will take on global stage in June.
The squad looks balanced, and has enough variety as well even though the power-hitting remains bit of concerns. The batting lineup looks fixed with what we have seen in last couple of series with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka expected to lead the charge in the top seven and Wanindu Hasaranga ready to step up in the order as needed. In the spin department, skipper Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana and notable inclusion of Dunith Wellalage who is yet to make his T20I debut take three spots out of fifteen.
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| Wellalage in 15-men squad. |
While Matheesha Pathirana is in hot form in IPL, Nuwan Thushara is going ok for MI and Dushmantha Chameera is injury-less they come in to the team as right arm pace bowlers. The room for left arm pacer has been grabbed by Dilshan Madushanka who is coming back after an injury. With those four the pace lineup has covered it bases well.
Going in to the tournament, the combination stands as the linchpin for Sri Lanka. Either Sri Lanka can form 6-5 combination or 7-4. Writer thinks this will be the toughest decision Tharanga has to make while the World Cup. Having a strong in bowling line-up with variety and batting is yet to find its full flow, choosing the combination will be crucial.
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| Pathirana was in hot form for CSK |
Exploring further into the options, the decision lies in choosing between fielding three frontline pacers or opting for a blend of two alongside the duo of Angelo and Shanaka. Hasaranga and Theekshana are set to spearhead the spin department, as expected.
Should Sri Lanka opt for the 6-5 combination, it would necessitate leaving out Sadeera, paving the way for Angelo and Shanaka to slot in at numbers five and six respectively. Conversely, a 7-4 combo would see only two pacers taking the field, with Angelo, Shanaka, and either Kamindu or DDS filling in the remaining four overs.
As travelling reserves Sri Lanka has go for Bhanuka Rajapaksha, impressive Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, All-rounder Janith Liyanage and pacer Asitha Fernando. Bhanuka last played for Sri Lanka in January 2023, but Tharanga has shown faith in his big-hitting ability. Viyaskanth unfortunately not in the first 15 men as the legbreak option is filed with skipper and understandable that selectors have opted for variety with left arm spinner.
Noticeably absent from the squad are players such as experienced Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, , Binura Fernando and Pramod Madushan. Avishka's recent showings during the Bangladesh fell short of expectations, while Kusal Perera's has struggled with injuries as well as not so impressive as he used to be. Meanwhile, Dilshan might gain fitness after the injury to overtake Binura who filled the left arm pacer role in Bangladesh series.
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| Can Wanindu clinch the trophy for SL ? |
Sri Lanka are in group D at the T20 World Cup along with Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands and South Africa as only two teams will advance to the super 8 stage. Their schedule is as follows.
3rd June- vs South Africa
8th June-vs Bangladesh
12th June-vs Nepal
17th June -vsNetherlands
Sri Lanka squad for 2024 T20I World Cup
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka,Nuwan Thushara.
Travelling reserves: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, and Asitha Fernando.
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