Sri Lanka name a youthful squad for T20I series against New Zealand
Sri Lanka Cricket have announced the squad for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand on Saturday. The list leaves out names of many veteran players like Thirsara Perera while naming a younger squad who will be lead by Lasith Malinga with Niroshan Dickwella acting as the vice-captain.
After losing their T20I series against South Africa earlier in the year, Sri Lankan selectors decided to revamp the squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand. They named a youthful team which will include players like 21-year-old Avishka Fernendo who has an impressive strike rate of 155.00 in T20Is. Apart from him, Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga have also made the cut. Danushka Gunathilaka who last played for Sri Lanka in January returns to the team as well.
While players like Thirsara Perera, Lahiru Kumara, Dhananjaya de Silva and Suranga Lakmal failed to make it into the squad.
The team will be lead by 35-year-old Lasith Malinga while Niroshan Dickwella has been named as the vice-captain. Dickwella played his last T20I series against South Africa in which he scored only 58 runs in three matches. The team included only two players who are above the age of thirty, the second on being seam bowler Isuru Udana. Apart from him and Malinga, the team will feature three other seam bowlers - Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Lahiru Madushanka.
The matches are set to begin from September 1, the second match will be on September 3rd while the last on September 9th.
Sri Lanka squad for the three-match T20I series vs New Zealand: Lasith Malinga (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Madushanka
