Farveez Maharoof makes his comeback into ODI squad

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced the one-day international (ODI) squad for the series against England and Ireland. Five more players will join the squad – Danushka Gunathilaka, Farveez Maharoof, Seekuge Prasanna, Suraj Randiv and Upul Tharanga. Allrounder Farveez Maharoof is making his comeback after 4 years, after playing his last match in March 2012.

The 31-year old Maharoof was the leading wicket-taker in Sri Lanka’s List A competition, the Premier limited over tournament in 2015-16. He claimed 16 wickets from five matches at an average of 6.31. He was handy with the bat as well for the Nondescripts Cricket Club, scoring 77 runs.

Some Test specialists are expected to return to Sri Lanka but the selectors have not yet specified which players. Sri Lanka will be without the services of spinner Rangana Herath, who has announced his retirement earlier this year from limited-overs cricket and fast bowlers Dhammika Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera, who pulled out due to injury.

Sri Lanka is struggling in the Test series against the hosts, trailing the series by 2-0. Lankans had been completely outplayed in both the matches apart from a century from Dinesh Chandimal in the second Test match, which avoided a back-to-back innings loss.

Also Read: 10 Interesting facts about the flamboyant Farveez Maharoof

Sri Lanka will play two ODIs against Ireland and five ODIs and a T20I against England. The ODIs against Ireland are on 16th and 18th of June and the ODI series against England will commence on 21st June and ends on 5th July.