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Monday Dec 16, 2024
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By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Injuries to key players has resulted in the two-member cricket selection committee picking youngsters to fill in the void for the first leg of Sri Lanka’s tour of the West Indies, which comprises two white ball series – 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs.
The injuries in fact have opened the door for talented players like Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Kamindu Mendis and Dilshan Madushanka to grab the opportunity they have got and perform in the Caribbean. The onus is on them to show what they are capable of at international level, having displayed their skills in the domestic circuit and with the ‘A’ team, Emerging side and Under-19 team.
Nissanka was the highest run getter in domestic cricket last season as he played four matches and scored 600 runs before getting injured. He later went with the Emerging and ‘A’ sides and performed consistently.
The ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis has already played ODIs and T20Is for Sri Lanka. He also toured South Africa. He was with the ‘A’ and Emerging teams and consistently performed at that level. He went to India and he also got a hundred against Ireland. He has continuously performed in club matches.
Ashen Bandara has been with the Emerging side and is considered one of the best fielders we have now in the country. He has performed at Emerging and ‘A’ team levels.
Madushanka was picked on his performance in the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa where he took 13 wickets from 6 matches.
“He has an abundance of talent and he is one of the skilful left-arm bowlers we have. We are lacking in left-arm fast bowlers; only Vishwa Fernando is there. We took him to South Africa, but he couldn’t play a game. This tour at least we hope he gets a chance. We have included him as a future prospect,” said a source close to the national selectors.
“As the seniors are injured, we have included these youngsters because this is the ideal opportunity we can give to them. If they perform well, we will have the youngsters as well as the seniors for our future cricket,” the source added.
With fitness being made one of the key criterions for selection, some of the key players were unable to undergo the tests largely through injuries. Kusal Perera (back), Avishka Fernando (ankle), Kusal Mendis (shoulder), Isuru Udana (hamstring) and Kasun Rajitha (hamstring) all missed out on selection because they could not undergo the fitness tests. Of the preliminary squad of 35 players selected for the West Indies tour, only two players failed the fitness test – Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Santhush Gunathilaka – who both didn’t pass the skin fold test.
According to sources close to the selectors, the selections were done based on the information provided by the physio and the trainer.
“We have a policy for selection according to the physios and trainers report on fitness only, we make the selection,” the source said.
On the non-selection of former T20I Captain Lasith Malinga the source said: “We have not heard anything from him for about three to four months. He didn’t play in the Lanka Premier League and he has never attended a training camp nor undergone any fitness tests. He has to train with the team to get selected.”
Malinga (37) recently announced that he was retiring from all franchise cricket, but he has not made any announcement with regard to quitting from international cricket.
