Pakistan vs Sri Lanka: Visitors announce ODI and T20I squads for the tour

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the ODI and T20I squads for their upcoming Pakistan tour. The visitors are scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals and as many T20Is between September 27 and October 9. The board hasn’t included any of the 10 players in both the squads who had refused to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns. Lahiru Thirimanne has been appointed the ODI skipper while Dasun Shanaka will lead the T20 side.

Both the squads bear the same look with only Thirimanne not being picked for the T20Is. Bhanuka Rajapaksa who has played 52 T20s so far in his career will replace him in the squad after the ODI series. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Avishka Fernando are the other two known names in a largely inexperienced batting line-up. Oshada Fernando who impressed during the South Africa tour earlier this year has made a comeback.

This is a great chance for him and some of the other players to stake their claim in the national side on a permanent basis. Another top performer in the domestic circuit, Angelo Perera, has been included in the team and his batting will also be key for Sri Lanka on the tour.

Decent bowling attack

Compared to the batting, Sri Lanka boasts of a decent bowling attack led by experienced Nuwan Pradeep. He will have the likes of Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara and Isuru Udana to support him even as the spinners Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga will look after the spin department.

Dasun Shanaka and Shehan Jayasuriya are the two all-rounders to be picked in the squad. Both the players were part of the team which defeated Bangladesh in the ODI series soon after the World Cup. The duo was given an opportunity only in a solitary game and then featured in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand.

As far as the tour is concerned, the National Stadium in Karachi will host the three ODIs, the T20 Internationals will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Minod Bhanuka, the top-order batsman and also a wicket-keeper, is the only uncapped player in the ODI squad with Rajapaksa being the other one in the T20I squad.

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Lahiru Thirimanne (C), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Angelo Perera, Minod Bhanuka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana.

Sri Lanka T20I squad: Dasun Shanaka (C), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, Minod Bhanuka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

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