Luck runs out on Shanaka – dropped from ODI squad

• Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka return for Afghanistan series

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Former Sri Lanka white ball captain Dasun Shanaka’s run of luck finally ended when he was excluded from the Sri Lanka squad of 16 players named for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan starting at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Apart from Shanaka, middle-order batsman Nuwanidu Fernando and leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay have also been left out.

Shevon Daniel who was named as replacement for Pathum Nissanka for the Zimbabwe series retains his place as the third opener, while all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne comes in place of Shanaka. Wanindu Hasaranga will take the place of Vandersay.

Despite being given another opportunity to regain his form Shanaka failed miserably against Zimbabwe in the ODI series being dismissed for single digit scores of 7 and 8 in the first two matches and was left out of the third. His lack of form with the bat has been an ongoing issue for the team. In his last 21 innings he has passed fifty only once. He lost the ODI captaincy to Kusal Mendis when he was injured during the Cricket World Cup in India and subsequently was replaced as captain in both ODI and T20I formats when the new selection committee under Upul Tharanga took office.

Karunaratne who replaces Shanaka has been recalled to the squad after being left out of the Zimbabwe series. He had earlier also replaced Shanaka in the World Cup squad when the former captain got injured.

Opening bat Nissanka returns to the squad after he was forced out of it for the Zimbabwe series with a viral flu. Nissanka who leads Kandy in the National Super League 4-day tournament is in sublime form having scored a match winning 151 against Colombo over the weekend.

Hasaranga was rested for the first two ODIs against Zimbabwe as he was recovering from a surgery to his hamstring. But on his return to international cricket in the third ODI, wrecked the Zimbabwe batting with career best figures of 7/19. Vandersay is nursing a dislocated finger which he sustained during the NSL match for Jaffna against Kandy and has been ruled out of the ODI series.

With Daniel being retained in the squad, Nuwanidu Fernando will continue to play and captain Colombo in the NSL 4-day tournament in the absence of Kusal Mendis. Mendis will be required for the national team in the ODI series. Sri Lanka named a 17-member squad for the Zimbabwe ODIs.

Sri Lanka and Afghanistan play three ODIs in Pallekele on 9, 11 and 14 February.

Sri Lanka ODI squad against Afghanistan

Kusal Mendis (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sahan Arachchige, Shevon Daniel, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Akila Dananjaya and Wanindu Hasaranga.