Sri Lanka announce 17-member squad for T20I series against West Indies, Rajapaksa returns

A 17-member squad has been announced by Sri Lanka Cricket four days ahead of the commencement of the T20I series against the West Indies in Dambulla.

There were a couple of players who missed the cut from the side that lost 0-3 to India in July, with the more prominent absentee being former skipper, Dasun Shanaka. Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka were the other ones to miss out.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the middle-order batter who is one of the few cricketers to have reversed his international retirement, has been added to the roster. He has earned a comeback to the squad for the first time since January 2023.

Charith Asalanka will lead the side. Wanindu Hasaranga, who stepped away from the role of captaincy post Sri Lanka's exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, will be spearheading the spin-bowling attack with the likes of Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Dunith Wellalage alongside him.

Vandersay, who has been in and out of the Lankan setup, is set to feature in his first T20I in over two years' time.

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The series begins on October 13, followed by matches on the 15th and 17th, with Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium slated to host all the three games. The series then shifts to the 50-over segment, with as many ODIs being played in Pallekele. 

The last time the two sides played a bilateral series against each other was way back in 2021, with the West Indies winning both the white-ball format series while the two-match Test series ended as a 0-0 stalemate. 

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Sri Lanka's T20I squad for series against West Indies

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, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando