Mendis, Gunathilaka return for T20I series in Australia

 

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board, on Wednesday, declared a 20-player crew for the forthcoming five-match T20I series set to be played in Australia. The crew incorporates nine new names from the one that was a piece of their last T20I crusade during the 2021 T20 WC in UAE. The crew additionally incorporates Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis, who had their one-year boycott disavowed recently. There was, in any case, a bad situation for Niroshan Dickwella.

Crew: Dasun Shanaka (C), Charith Asalanka (VC), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando (dependent upon clerical endorsement)

Jeffrey Vandersay, the 31-year-old legspinner, who last played a T20I in March 2019, has been reviewed to the crew, not long after being brought once more into the one-day arrangement during the as of late closed series against Zimbabwe at home. Players Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis have likewise been reviewed interestingly since June 2021. In the mean time, All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranaga, who had passed up the Zimbabwe ODI series, has gotten back aside.

The uncapped speed team of Janith Liyanage and Kamil Mishara, who passed up the Zimbabwe series because of COVID-19 in the wake of dazzling in the Lanka Premier League, has additionally procured a call-up. The speed additionally incorporates other new faces like Nuwan Thusara and Shiran Fernando, while the last's determination is dependent upon ecclesiastical endorsement. All-rounder Dhanajaya de Silva, who had taken a paternity break, hasn't gotten back to the side while 'guardian bat Kusal Perera and spinner Akila Dananjaya have likewise been forgotten about.

The crew, drove by Dasun Shanaka, will play a five-match series against Australia beginning February 11. The initial two matches will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, trailed by the third at Manuka Oval and the last two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In the mean time, Rumesh Ratnayake has been named as the interval mentor of Sri Lanka for the Australia visit. The previous Sri Lanka pace bowler won't venture out to Australia with the remainder of the crew. All things being equal, he will join before the first T20I, as he is as of now in disengagement having tried Covid 19 positive.

OUT: Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Akila Dananjaya.

IN: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Thushara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando.