Sri Lanka announces 18-man squad for Australia T20Is, Rajapaksa and Hasaranga return

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced the squad for the upcoming T20I series at home against Australia, starting June 7. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and wicketkeeper-batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa made a return to the squad. Hasaranga missed the tour of India earlier this year due to Covid-19 while Rajapaksa was left out due to fitness issues. The latter had announced retirement from international cricket earlier this year but soon took it back after discussions with SLC.

Both these players are coming off a very good performance in the recently concluded IPL. Hasaranga picked up 26 wickets for Royal Challengers Bangalore as he finished as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament. His form was instrumental in RCB making it to the playoffs for the third consecutive time. On the other hand, the left-handed batter of Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa scored 206 runs in nine innings at an average of 22.88.

Hasaranga played against Australia in February where he picked up five wickets in two matches before he missed out on the series against India. Rajapaksa replaces Dinesh Chandimal as he had an ordinary outing in both Australia and India series earlier this year.

Along with Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Lahiru Kumara have also been dropped. Players like Niroshan Dickwella and leggie Jeffrey Vandersay have been picked as stand-by players for the series. Rajapaksa is making a comeback in T20Is after his last match against West Indies in the UAE in the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup. The Under-19 pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana got a maiden call-up to this series after his impressive outing in this year’s IPL for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Sri Lanka and Australia are also set to lock horns in five ODIs and two Test matches as the tour concludes on July 12.

Sri Lanka’s squad for the series:

Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan