Mathews come back the squared

2024.01.09

After a three-year break, Angelo Mathews is back in the T20I team.

Sri Lanka squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (capt), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Akila Dananjaya.

After being included in Sri Lanka’s T20I team for the series against Zimbabwe, Angelo Mathews is set to play in his first T20I in over three years. In addition, spinner Akila Dananjaya, round-arm seam bowler Nuwan Thushara, batting all-rounder Kamindu Mendis, and hitters Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva—who are not included in the team for the current ODIs—are included in the squad.

Wanindu Hasaranga will be captain for the first time in this series. Former captain Dasun Shanaka still has a berth in the team.

Opening batsman Avishka Fernando, middle order batsmen Nuwanidu Fernando, and Janith Liyanage—who won Player of the Match in the second ODI against Zimbabwe—are among those left off of this team. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, seamer Pramod Madushan, and all-arounder Dunith Wellalage are also not included in the team. After being hospitalized last week for probable dengue, Pathum Nissanka has been named subject to fitness.

Sri Lanka will begin its serious preparations for the T20 World Cup later this year with these three Twenty20 Internationals. There were just seven T20Is played by Sri Lanka in 2023.

All three T20Is will be played at RPCS Colombo, on January 14, 16 and 18.

@charith