Hasaranga not quite ready for international cricket

 Wanindu Hasaranga who last played for Sri Lanka in July 2023 celebrates a wicket

• Will miss first two ODIs against Zimbabwe

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka’s star all-rounder and new T20I captain Wanindu Hasaranga is not quite ready for international cricket and will miss the first two matches of the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe starting on Saturday at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Hasaranga who underwent successful surgery for a hamstring injury which he sustained during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) last August was named in Sri Lanka’s squad of 17 for the ODI series but with a tag - subject to fitness.

“The report given to us by the team physio says that Wanindu should play at least three one-day domestic matches after the surgery before he would be released to the national side,” said cricket selectors chairman Upul Tharanga.

“Wanindu has already appeared in two matches so far and we are confident that after playing three games he will be available for selection to the national side.”

Hasaranga who plays for CCC in domestic cricket has bowled 15 overs in the two Major Club Limited Overs tournament matches he has played so far taking five wickets at an average of 11.80.

Sri Lanka’s first two ODIs against Zimbabwe are on 6 and 8 January. The third and final ODI is on 11 January which gives Hasaranga enough time to make his return to international cricket, and also make his debut as Sri Lanka’s T20I captain in the three-match series against Zimbabwe commencing on 14 January. Following the exceptional leadership qualities he displayed when captaining B-Love Kandy to win the LPL, Hasaranga was named as the new Sri Lanka T20I captain succeeding Dasun Shanaka. Hasaranga’s injury saw him miss the Asia Cup and the Cricket World Cup. Sri Lanka in fact missed him badly in the World Cup where they finished ninth out of ten teams with only two wins out of nine matches.

In Hasaranga’s absence his spin partner Maheesh Theekshana pushed into the role of a wicket-taking bowler, and turned out to be quite ineffective. His six wickets from eight matches cost 63.66. The pair has proved to be a successful combination in white ball cricket when bowling in tandem.

Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, also nursing a hamstring injury has been ruled out of the Zimbabwe series. “It will take about 2-3 weeks for him to recover fully and a week before he can start to bowl,” said Tharanga.       

The selectors have retained only Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage as bowlers for the Zimbabwe ODI series. Missing out from the World Cup squad are Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana and Dushan Hemantha. Karunaratne and Pathirana have been named in the preliminary T20I squad of 22 players.

Tharanga said the selectors had decided to go with Pramod Madushan who has played along with Kasun Rajitha, for the Zimbabwe series. As regards Hemantha, Tharanga said, “Hemantha is a good young player, we have not overlooked him. We want him to play in the ‘A’ team and in the NSL (National Super League) and gain experience. We believe he can improve his skills.”

Likewise, spinners Akila Dananjaya who last played for Sri Lanka in September 2021 and Jeffrey Vandersay whose last appearance was in January 2023 are being tried out in the series against Zimbabwe as back-up bowlers for Hasaranga and Theekshana in future matches.