Colombo, Sri Lanka

Hosts Sri Lanka have announced their 16-man squad for the upcoming T20I series against India to start a new era of their own. Having resigned from his position as captain Wanindu Hasaranga has still retained his place in the squad announced on Tuesday (Jul 23) with Charith Asalanka taking over as the new skipper. The squad also sees the return of experienced Kusal Perera with the series starting on Saturday (Jul 27) in Pallekele.

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Sri Lanka announce 16-man squad

With the T20I series set to start on Saturday, the hosts had yet to announce the squad for the three-match assignment. However, on Tuesday the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the team which marked the return of two key players. Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera returned missing the former returning to the squad after February 2022 having missed a chunk of white-ball cricket during that period.

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Chandimal’s last ODI match was in November 2022, but could now help regain the attention of the selectors ahead of the Champions Trophy, which starts in less than six months. Perera on the flip side missed the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA due to an injury and will look to re-launch his career.

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The biggest news however was the selection of Asalanka as the new skipper of the T20I series as tries to fill the shoes of Hasaranga who led the side during the poor T20 World Cup campaign. Asalanka was the likely choice of the selectors having been with the team for the last few years. Interestingly, there was no place for former captain Angelo Matthews having been overlooked for white-ball cricket yet again.

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According to reports, his white-ball career is all but over with him being only considered for the Test series.

Sri Lanka T20I squad for India series

Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando