Pinch hitter dilemma forces Sri Lanka to recall tried and tested duo

Tuesday, 8 July 2025 05:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne recalled to T20I squad for BD series
Only uncapped player Eshan Malinga in 17-member squad

Hard hitting all-rounders Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne were recalled to the Sri Lanka T20I squad to play Bangladesh in a series of three matches starting at Pallekele from 10 July.

Also back in the T20I squad are left-arm spin all-rounder Dunith Wellalage and off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana, both of whom were not part of Sri Lanka’s last T20I series in New Zealand in 2024-25, while fast bowler Eshan Malinga gets an opportunity to win his maiden T20I cap.

24-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler Malinga has played in six ODIs for his country but has yet to break into the shortest format although he has played franchise cricket more notably for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recently concluded IPL.

“We have made some changes to the squad with the hope of building up our T20 squad for the World Cup. We have about four series and this is a good opportunity. We have to settle the positions before the series against England in January which is our last before the World Cup,” said Chief Selector Upul Tharanga.

Sri Lanka have been forced to bring back Shanaka and Karunaratne for the number 6 pinch-hitters position after trying out Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamindu Wickramasinghe in previous series. Shanaka played the last of his 102 T20Is for Sri Lanka in July last year, while Karunaratne has not appeared for his country in any format since November 2023.

“Dasun and Chamika are in good touch. These two players have been performing well in that position in domestic cricket, Dasun in the middle-order and Chamika in the lower-order. There are no new names surfacing,” said Tharanga.

“Numbers 4 and 6 are not settled yet and we are looking at plugging the gaps during the Bangladesh series. At 4, we are looking at Avishka Fernando. He performed well in the LPL batting in that position. The first preference is for Avishka but if the need arises we can also use Dasun in that position. Looking ahead at the T20 World Cup the issue we have are the number 4 and 6 batting spots,” he added.

Tharanga said that the fast bowling unit was in good space and there was competition for places.

“We have 4 players who appeared in the IPL. We have a good set of bowlers which is making it very difficult to pick the sides. There is a good challenge for places. That’s what we want in the batting also but it’s the middle order that is causing the problem. If we don’t get a good start, there is no one able to give us a good total. Apart from Charith (Asalanka), the middle order failed to deliver even in the second ODI.”

SRI LANKA T20I SQUAD FOR BANGLADESH SERIES

Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Eshan Malinga. (ST)

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