SL women make seven changes from Asia Cup to face India

By Madushka Balasuriya 

The inclusion of the uncapped Kaveesha Dilhari and the return of veterans Eshani Lokusuriyage and Dilani Manodara are among seven changes Sri Lanka have made from the Asia Cup earlier this year as they announced their T20I squad to face India. 

Chamari Atapattu, who had missed the Asia Cup T20 - Sri Lanka’s last T20 assignment - with dengue, will lead the side in the five-match series starting today.

Seventeen-year-old allrounder Dilhari, who has long been earmarked by Sri Lankan management as a future star, finally made her international debut in the India ODIs - having previously been named in the squad to face Pakistan in March. As such her inclusion in the T20Is comes as little surprise.

Rather more surprising are the inclusions of Lokusuriyage and Manodara. The 34-four-year-old Lokusuriyage last played for Sri Lanka at the 2017 Women’s World Cup, though she has not played in the shortest format since 2016, while 35-year-old wicketkeeper Manodara has played in all the ODIs against India but scored just 21 runs across the three games.

Elsewhere, 27-year-old allrounder Ama Kanchana, who had also been ruled out with dengue alongside her captain, returns to the side, while there’s also room for 24-year-old right-hand bat Imalka Mendis. Mendis’ inexperience had cost her a spot at the Asia Cup but her cause has been aided by the management starting to take a longer-term view. Sripali Weerakkody also returns on the back of some promising displays in the ODIs against India. The 32-year-old allrounder had last played a T20I in October 2017. Making way are Oshadi Ranasinghe, Nipuni Hansika, Malsha Shehani, Achini Kulasooriya, Harshitha Madavi, Inoshi Fernando and Inoka Ranaweera.

Katunayake will host the first T20I today before the action moves to the Colts Cricket Club grounds in Colombo for the next three games on 21, 22 and 24 September. The teams will return to Katunayake for final match on 25 September.

Full squad: Chamari Atapattu (captain), Yasoda Mendis, Anushka Sanjeewani, Eshani Lokusuriyage, Hasini Perera, Dilani Manodara, Shashikala Siriwardena, Nilakshi De Silva, Imalka Mendis, Sripalee Weerakkodi, Sugandika Kumari, Rebeca Vandort, Udeshika Prabodhini, Ama Kanchana and Kavisha Dilhari.