Mendis retains ODI captaincy, Hasaranga new T20I skipper

• Squads for ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe picked

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Top order batsman Kusal Mendis has been retained as Sri Lanka’s ODI Captain, while all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been named as the new Sri Lanka T20I Captain for the upcoming white ball series against Zimbabwe by the new selection committee headed by former Sri Lanka ODI Captain Upul Tharanga.

Middle order batsman Charith Asalanka has been named as Vice-Captain for both formats.

Both these positions were held by all-rounder Dasun Shanaka who lost the ODI Captaincy to Mendis during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India due to poor form with the bat and a hamstring injury. Shanaka’s continuous poor run with the bat was a contributory factor towards him losing the T20I Captaincy as well. Shanaka however has been named in the squads for the ODI and T20I series.

Hasaranga pushed himself forward as a candidate for the T20I captaincy with his inspirational leadership in the last Lanka Premier League (LPL) where he guided his team B-Love Kandy to win the title. Hasaranga not only displayed his prowess as a leader but also with his exploits on the field in all three departments, before a hamstring injury put him out of action for the best part of four months during which period he underwent surgery.

As for Mendis the series will evaluate him whether the captaincy is affecting his batting. Prior to taking over the ODI leadership from Shanaka in the World Cup, Mendis had scores of 76 and 122, but with the added responsibilities his form suffered immensely, his next seven innings producing a highest score of 39.

Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, and Matheesha Pathirana who figured in the Sri Lanka World Cup have been left out of the ODI squad of 21 players named for the Zimbabwe series, but all four have been included in the 22-member squad for the T20I series.

Opening bat Dimuth Karunaratne and bowlers Dushan Hemantha, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara all of whom played in the recent World Cup fail to find a place in either of the two squads.

Recalled to the ODI and T20I squads are spinners Akila Dananjaya and Jeffrey Vandersay and batsman Kamindu Mendis. Batsmen Avishka Fernando and Janith Liyanage and fast bowler Chamika Gunasekara whose solitary ODI appearance was against Zimbabwe in January 2022 find themselves back in the ODI squad, while batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa and fast bowler Nuwan Thushara, the most expensive buy from Sri Lanka at the recent LPL auction are included in the T20I squad.

Sri Lanka will take on Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series on 6, 8 and 11 January and in a three-match T20I series on 14, 16 and 18 January at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. This will be the first series for Sri Lanka after their disappointing World Cup campaign.

Sri Lanka squad for ODI series

Kusal Mendis (Captain), Charith Asalanka (Vice-Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage, Promod Madushan, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Gunasekara.

Sri Lanka squad for T20I series

Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain), Charith Asalanka (Vice-Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kamindu Mendis, Matheesha Pathirana, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Promod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera.