The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee on Tuesday (November 6) announced the 17-man squads for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against New Zealand at home.
Sri Lanka will host New Zealand in a two-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series this November. The two T20Is between the Sri Lanka cricket team and the New Zealand cricket team will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on November 9 and 10.
Sri Lanka announces squads for T20I and ODI series against New Zealand
The three-match ODI series will begin on November 13 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for November 17 and 19 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
Charith Asalanka will continue to captain Sri Lanka’s white ball teams. Experienced players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Kusal Mendis have been included in both the T20I and ODI ranks, bringing depth in both batting and bowling.
Sri Lanka’s ODI squad has experienced and emerging players including batsmen Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama. All-rounder Dunith Wellalage and leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay will play a crucial role in the bowling attack, while the fast-bowling unit will be supported by Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
The wait for Mohammad Shiraz’s T20I comeback continues
The T20I squad saw the return of power-hitting batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa and experienced all-rounder Dinesh Chandimal, adding firepower and experience to the squad for the upcoming home series against the Black Caps.
They also named Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thusharan in the T20I squad. Mohammad Shiraz was only included in the ODI squad.
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board said in a media release, “The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has selected the squads for the T20I and ODI series against the New Zealand Men’s National Team. Two T20I matches will be played on November 9 and 10, while three ODI matches will be played on November 13, 17 and 19, 2024. RDICS will be the venue for the first three games and the last two games with Dambulla. The ODI will be played at PICS Pallekele.”
Notably, the New Zealand cricket team enters the white-ball series in Lanka with a historic 3-0 clean sweep against India in the three-match Test series earlier this month.
However, they lost the Test series to the Lankans before this turnaround, so the upcoming ODI and T20I will offer an interesting battle for the fans, with both teams looking to maintain their dominance on the field.
Sri Lanka squads for New Zealand series:
T20 Squad: Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Nuwanthe Mashaurae, B. and Asita Fernando. .
ODI Squad: Charith Asalanka (C), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dilhackraheduing, and Mohammad Shiraz.
 announced the squad for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand at home. Sri Lanka will be hosting New Zealand in a two-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series this November.){kind=link}