The Sri Lanka T-20 cricket squad has recently added 20-year-old bowling all-rounder Dunith Wellalage to their team for the upcoming ICC T-20 World Cup cricket tournament. The tournament is scheduled to be held from June 2 to 29 in the USA and West Indies.
The Sri Lanka T-20 squad for the upcoming World Cup has been finalised by the selection committee, headed by Upul Tharanga. The Sports Minister, Harin Fernando, approved a 15-member squad and four travel reserves yesterday evening. The reserves include paceman Asitha Fernando, leg spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, hard-hitting left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and all-rounder Janith Liyanage. The team is scheduled to leave for the USA on May 14.
After the last Bangladesh tour, the selectors had picked more than 12 players and evaluated a few positions for the 2-3 slots. A senior official of the SLC confirmed that the 25-member squad had already obtained US visas, and the final team of 15 players will be selected from this group.
The final 15-member squad for the T-20 World Cup has a cut-off date of May 25, and the selectors have decided to hold a T-20 match series among SLC Reds, SLC Greens, and SLC Yellow teams at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. There are two more matches scheduled to be played today and tomorrow. Former St. Joseph’s Colombo and National Under-19 skipper, Dunith Wellalage, has recently performed well. His extra batting and fielding abilities have paved the way for his selection in the T-20 World Cup squad ahead of Akila Dhananjaya and Jeffery Vandersay, both 34-year-old spinners. Wellalage is the highest wicket-taker of the T-20 preparation matches, and he has proven his abilities. He was also a member of the last ODI World Cup held in India. Sri Lanka spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan pointed out that Wellalage is an asset for the Sri Lanka team in an interview held in Pune last November. Muralitharan also said that Wellalage has good potential and needs more exposure. He is a good backup spinner for Wanindu.
The selectors’ decision to bring in Wellalage is a brave move as, despite his young age, he is an excellent backup spinner for the experienced Wanindu Hasaranga, who will lead the World Cup T-20 squad. Maheesh Theekshana, the mystery spinner, and the seasoned Dhananjaya de Silva are the other spinners on the team, while Vice-Captain Charith Asalanka is a part-time off-spinner. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga, the experienced leggie, had a heel injury but has now recovered. He has, however, not bowled at the preparation T-20 matches, and most probably, he will bowl in the next game, added a senior official of the SLC.
Experienced players Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka have been named in the 15-member squad, while Kusal Janith Perera was unfortunately not given a chance to join the team.
The left-arm paceman Dilshan Madushanka was recently sidelined due to injury, but he is recovering well and is expected to bowl in the next few matches. Additionally, four extra players are set to be included as travel reserves, with Chamika Karunaratne and Binura Fernando among them. Sri Lankan young paceman Matheesha Pathirana, who has a unique Slinga action, suffered a hamstring injury during the IPL, but medical experts have stated that he should be fully recovered within 7-8 days and can join the national squad. Matheesha had also returned from injury during the last ODI World Cup. Furthermore, Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera are currently playing in the IPL but will soon join the national squad.
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama also in the squad while Kusal Mendis is the wicket keeper and Samarawickrama as the reserve wicket keeper of the side. Kamindu Mendis who was in good form at the last Bangladesh tour finds a place.
However 10 players out of 25 who got Visa are out from this final squad and four of the ten players who were not named for the original squad will join the squad as travel reserves. Meanwhile Sri Lanka T-20 squad is expected to travel USA on May 12 to get practice to adjust to the conditions and this is good move from the SLC and players and supporting staff are very keen to go early. Sri Lanka will meet South Africa on June 3 in their first World Cup T-20 match in New York.
Sri Lanka T-20 Squad:
Wanindu Hasaranga (Capt), Charith Asalanka (V. Capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka. Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.
Dhammika Ratnaweera