Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have announced their 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 and four travelling reserves. Wanindu Hasaranga who missed the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 due to a heel injury will lead the side. Charith Asalanka will be his deputy.
Hasaranga recently played a couple of T20 practice games in Sri Lanka. The spin all-rounder did not bowl but registered scores of 9 and 28 for SLC Yellow. He was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL mini-auction for Rs 1.5 crore. His replacement in SRH, young spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth is one of the four travelling reserves.
Angelo Mathews who was missing from Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup 2024 squad in Australia has made a comeback. Mathews made his comeback to the T20I time after nearly three years. In January 2024, he played in the series against Zimbabwe. Since his comeback, he has scored 206 runs from seven innings including an unbeaten 66 against Zimbabwe. With the ball, the 36-year-old has bagged five wickets. Sri Lanka have played Bangladesh and Afghanistan as well since Matthews' return. He is the only player in the squad who was also part of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup 2014 triumph.
Dunith Wellalage is the only player in the squad who is yet to make his T20I debut.
Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup squad
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dilshan Madushanka
Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Janith Liyanage.
Sri Lanka’s group stage clashes
Sri Lanka are placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Netherlands. The champions of the 2014 edition will start their campaign against South Africa at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. Then, they will face their nemesis Bangladesh at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. Their next two group game clashes against Nepal and the Netherlands will be played on June 11 and June 16 respectively.
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