Sri Lanka Cricket announced their squad for the upcoming T20I series against West Indies on Wednesday. In the biggest change, there was no place for the star all-rounder and former captain Dasun Shanaka in the 17-member squad for a three-match home series starting on October 13 in Dambulla.
The experienced wicketkeeper batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been named in the T20I team for the first time since January 2023. Rajapaksa enjoyed a successful stint with St Lucia Kings in the recent Caribbean Premier League after showing consistency in the Lanka Premier League 2024 for Galle.
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old legbreak spinner Jeffrey Vandersay also found a place in the T20I squad for the first time in the last two years. Vandersay picked eight wickets in two ODIs against India in August but is lacking T20 cricket to justify his selection. Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage are all ahead of Vandersay in the pecking order for Sri Lanka in T20Is.
Shanaka was part of Sri Lanka's last T20I assignment against India in July where he failed to score or take a wicket in the three-match series. Shanaka was in brilliant form with both bat and ball in the National Super League Limited Over, Sri Lanka's List A tournament, but it proved not enough to satisfy the national selectors for a T20I spot.
Apart from Shanka, the experienced pacer Dushmantha Chameera has also been left out of the team despite some impressive spells in the Lanka Premier League. The fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka also misses out as youngster Matheesha Pathirana leads the strong pace attack with the likes of Nuwan Thushara and Asitha Fernando.
Sri Lanka T20I squad for West Indies series
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando.
