Lahiru Kumara and Wahnindu Hasaranga out as Sri Lanka announce Asia Cup squad
After a lot of delay due to injuries and various other reasons Sri Lanka has finally announced their Asia Cup squad which is missing some experienced players like all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, and Lahiru Kumara.
The squad no doubt is inexperienced but also comprises some talented bowlers like Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madhushan, and Kasun Rajitha. The pace bowling attack will have its task cut out in the league phase of the tournament against teams like Afghanistan and Bangladesh who will fancy their chances against a depleted Sri Lankan side.
The Lankan Lions will in return bank on its captain Dasun Shanaka to lead from the front through his captaincy like he did in the last edition which Sri Lanka won. The spin bowling department will miss the services of Wanindu Hasaranga and will depend on Maheesh Theekshana to deliver a solid performance for the team
The Batting
Talking about Sri Lanka’s batting department it comprises some experienced names like that of former Sri Lankan captain Kusal Perera who is nursing the COVID-19 virus and is a doubtful starter for Sri Lanka’s first match against Bangladesh on August 31.
The other batter the Lankan Lions will depend a lot on is Dhananjaya de Silva who has been the team’s best batter across formats in the last two years. He will look to carry the Lankan batting on his shoulder along with Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne in the absence of Kusal Perera. Sri Lanka will play their opening match against Bangladesh in Pallekele before traveling to Pakistan for the next match against Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka Squad for Asia Cup 2023
The Lankan Lions if they qualify for the next round will play their super four matches in Sri Lanka so their goal would be to qualify for the next round and make full use of the home conditions.
Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanaka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis (vc), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan
