Sri Lanka announces 15-man squad for T20 world Cup 2021

The T20 World Cup 2021 is all set to get underway from October 17 in the UAE and teams have been announcing their squad one after the other. In the same light of events, Sri Lanka has also come with its 15-man squad for T20 World Cup 2021. Interestingly, Akila Dananjaya has been demoted to travelling reserves.

The 15-man squad announced by Lanka has listed Dasun Shanaka as a skipper of the side and has likes of Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Perera, etc. Maheesh Theekshana, a 21-year-old off-spinner, is one of the surprising choices in the squad. He attracted selectors with his top-class bowling in the series against South Africa.

Dinesh Chandimal returns to the Sri Lanka squad, Dasun Shanaka to lead

It has to be noted that Lanka are currently playing a white-ball series against South Africa and a lot will depend on their players’ performance in the South Africa T20I series. The main players in the T20 WC to look out from SL’s end would be skipper Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, etc. Dinesh Chandimal’s return is also taken as a crucial point in SL’s squad announcement.

Lanka was also up against India in July for a white-ball series. Though they lost the ODI series against India, they went on to display a great deal of performance in T20Is. Hasaranga was declared as the player of the match and will be their key aspect in UAE as well as the slow wickets of the gulf nation would assist spin.

It has to be noted that both Hasaranga and Chameera will also play alongside RCB in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 which will act as a great practice for them to move into the high-profile tournament. Lahiru Kumara, Pulina Tharanga, Binura Fernando, Akila Dananjaya are the travelling reserves for the tournament.

Sri Lanka’s squad for T20 WC 2021: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Dhananjaya de Silva (Vice-Captain), Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama.

Reserves: Lahiru Kumara, Pulina Tharanga, Binura Fernando, Akila Dananjaya.

Your 🇱🇰 squad for the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup 2021! 👊https://t.co/xQbf0kgr6X pic.twitter.com/8Hoqbx10Vy

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 12, 2021