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Dunith Wellalage
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Promising all-rounder Dunith Wellalage left out of the Sri Lanka ODI and T20I squads to Pakistan has been named captain of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad to participate in the eight-nation Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship (formerly Emerging Asia Cup) in Doha, Qatar from 14-23 November.
The tournament which will run parallel to the Pakistan tour sees three other discards from the ODI squad to Pakistan included for the Qatar tournament namely – Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando and Milan Rathnayake.
Cricket Selectors Chairman Upul Tharanga said that Wellalage’s place as a spin all-rounder was not guaranteed during the white ball series against Pakistan and it was decided that it would be better if he captained the Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the T20 format and gained some experience playing against the ‘A’ teams of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Several analysts consider Wellalage to be future captain material having successfully led his school St. Joseph’s College, Colombo and the Sri Lanka Under-19 World Cup cricket teams.
The 15-member squad comprises a number of national players who have appeared in Tests, ODI and T20I cricket along with Sri Lanka ‘A’ team players and has a blend of experience and youth.
Fast bowler Pramod Madushan who has been named in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team as well as the Sri Lanka ODI squad to Pakistan will complete his matches in Pakistan before joining the team in Doha. Madushan comes as replacement in the ODI squad for Dilshan Madushanka (knee injury) and will most probably miss the initial part of the Asia Cup Rising Stars Championship. The three-match ODI series in Pakistan ends on 15 November.
The 15-match tournament apart from the five Test playing nations includes Oman, UAE and Hong Kong exactly as the Asia Cup that was held recently in the UAE.
Afghanistan are the defending champions having beaten Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the final of the last edition.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad to Asia Cup Rising Stars
Dunith Wellalage (captain), Vishen Halambage, Nishan Madushka (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sohan de Livera, Sahan Arachchige, Isitha Wijesundara, Ramesh Mendis, Traveen Mathew, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Garuka Sanketh, Pramod Madushan and Milan Rathnayake.
