Sri Lanka have dropped former captain Charith Asalanka for the upcoming ODI tri-series in Pakistan that also features England. Asalanka, who averages 40.55 in 88 ODIs, has been left out following scores of 1, 11 and 7 during the one-day leg of the recent tour of England.
Batter Avishka Fernando and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige have earned a recall. The duo replace Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, who injured his hamstring during the England tour, in an otherwise unchanged squad from the side that conceded the ODI series 2-1 to England.
Sri Lanka squad for ODI tri-series: Kusal Mendis (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga
Asalanka’s exclusion follows his omission from Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the 3-match series against Pakistan that precedes the tri-series. Incidentally, Asalanka was the team’s vice-captain for the England tour and stepped in as captain for the T20Is after regular skipper Kusal Mendis failed to recover in time from a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Fernando has been recalled on the back of a rich vein of domestic form that saw him score 447 runs in 7 innings at an average of 63.85 in the Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament back home.
The squad also includes Pathum Nissanka and Dushmantha Chameera, both of whom have lingering fitness concerns. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Nissanka, who has been ruled out of the T20Is, will travel with the team only if declared “medically fit”. Chameera, meanwhile, was a conditional pick in the T20I squad subject to receiving fitness clearance.
The tri-series is scheduled to commence on October 18 with a clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. Following one round of matches between each team in Rawalpindi, the teams move to Lahore for the second round before the final on October 31.
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