Dilshan Madushanka, a young, unproven left-arm seamer, received his first call-up as Sri Lanka, the five-time champions, on Saturday unveiled their 18-man squad for the Asia Cup, which gets underway in Dubai next week. The squad, captained by regular skipper Dasun Shanaka, also features Ashen Bandara, who last played for Sri Lanka in a T20I match against India in July 2021, at age 21. The team’s vice-captain will be Charith Asalanka, and on August 27 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, they will face Afghanistan in the first game of the Asia Cup.
The seasoned combo of Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, as well as Jeffrey Vandersay, are also back in the T20I mix after missing Sri Lanka’s most recent T20I series against Australia at home in June, which the visitors won by a score of 2-1.
Due to injuries incurred during the SLC Invitational T20 League 2022, the original squad members Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha will not be travelling.
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The injured team’s recommended replacements are Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan.
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India, a seven-time champion, Pakistan, a two-time winner, and Bangladesh, a three-time finalist, will also compete in the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama,Nuwanidu Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal.
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