Prolific run-getter in the concluded SLC Premier League Cricket Tournament, wicket-keeper opening batsman Lahiru Udara of NCC, has been left out from the 35-member pool for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, Daily News reliably learns.
Udara scored a massive 1,039 runs with a superb average of 87.00 at a strike-rate of 86.72 inclusive of three centuries and six half-centuries with a highest score of 290.
In his last six innings, he scored 70, 105, 90, 93, 111 and 66, which is an outstanding effort by the NCC opener. In contrast, Minod Bhanuka who scored only five and one in the second Test against South Africa at Johannesburg has found a place in the 35-member pool as a wicket-keeper/top order batsman.
The 35-member pool already includes four wicket-keeper batsmen inclusive of Dinesh Chandimal, Noroshan Dickwella, Kusal Janith Perera and Kusal Mendis.
Hence, it is questionable whether Sri Lanka needs an additional fifth wicket-keeper batsman for this tour of the West Indies.
It is also rather surprising to note the inclusion of out of form batsman, Kusal Mendis, who has scored four successive ducks and a mere 15 runs in his last five Test innings.
Therefore, the non-inclusion of Udara from the 35-member pool, for the tour of the West Indies will always remain as a mystery.
The probable 35-member pool for the West Indies tour:
Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Kusal Janith Perera, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimane, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Minod Bhanuka, Pathum Nissanka, Roshen Silva, Avishka Fernando, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Santhush Gunathilake, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Lasith Embuldeniya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Duvindu Tillakaratne, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Dilshan Madushanka and Kusal Mendis.
