Sri Lanka have recalled veteran all-rounder Thisara Perera to their 15-member squad for the upcoming Twenty20 International series against the visiting side West Indies where they are all set to play two matches starting on March 4. The cricket board further said that the right-arm medium-pacer Nuwan Pradeep, who was not included in the three-match Twenty20 International series against India earlier this year, was also brought back for the upcoming series.
Sri Lanka, however, retained the ODI squad as it was with the exception of Dimuth Karunaratne who earlier led the 50-overs team but does not play in the shortest form of the game as well. In the current three-match ODI series against West Indies, Sri Lanka has already registered two convincing wins and also won the series. However, the final game of the series will be played in Kandy on Sunday.
Along with Thisara Perera and Nuwan Pradeep, Shehan Jayasuriya has also recalled to Sri Lanka T20I squad for the upcoming two-match series against West Indies. Meanwhile, Kasun Rajitha, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Oshada Fernando have been dropped from the 15-member squad.
Thisara, the veteran all-rounder, who was dropped for the New Zealand T20Is and the T20I game against India, has scored 193 runs and picked up 11 wickets this season in tournaments as well. He also performed pretty well in the ongoing ODI series against West Indies with the bat where he made useful contributions lower down the order.
Shehan Jayasuriya, the all-rounder, who hasn’t played for Sri Lanka in T20Is since the tour of Australia, has returned. On the other hand, Danushka Gunathilaka, the opener, will be unavailable due to a back injury. Both the T20Is will take place in Pallekele, on March 4 and 6 respectively.
The Sri Lanka squad:
Lasith Malinga (Captain), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep and Lahiru Kumara
