Return of Mathews, Kusal Perera, Sadeera and Pathum to white ball cricket

• Two uncapped players also named for series in New Zealand

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The Sri Lanka ODI and T20I squads named for the upcoming series against New Zealand sees the return of several cricketers from injuries and from reasons best known to the selectors, plus two uncapped players.

After trying to experiment with youngsters in white ball format with unsuccessful results that sees Sri Lanka having to qualify for a place at the next 50-over World Cup in India in October, the national selectors have finally and unashamedly fallen back on experience and recalled Angelo Mathews for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting on 25 March. Mathews last appeared for his country in white ball format in March 2021 against West Indies at North Sound, and since then has been given the cold shoulder along with such senior cricketers like Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne.

Signs that the selectors were looking at bringing back Mathews to white ball cricket came when he was included for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the first two unofficial ODIs against England Lions where he made a fifty. He also scored 201 runs (avg. 40.20) captaining Colombo Stars in the Lanka Premier T20 League.

Sri Lanka’s ODI performances since that series in the West Indies have been three consecutive series losses to Bangladesh, England and India and three successive series wins against South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia at home and a drawn series against Afghanistan.

Also returning after a long lay-off is wicket-keeper/batsman Kusal Perera who underwent surgery on a troubled right shoulder and has not played for his country since the T20 World Cup in UAE in November 2021. Perera returned to competitive cricket playing for Colombo in an NSL 4-day match and also in an NSL 50-over match – both against Dambulla.

Opening bat Pathum Nissanka also makes a comeback after injury having last played for his country against India in an ODI match at Guwahati in January this year.

Wicket-keeper/batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama gets a recall to the national white ball side after two years. Samarawickrama gets recognition for his consistent performances at domestic level and for Sri Lanka ‘A’ against England Lions being named in both ODI and T20Is sides.

The same could be said of all-rounder Sahan Arachchige who has been selected for the ODI series and opening bat Lasith Croospulle for the T20I series. Croospulle showed excellent form scoring two centuries and a fifty against England Lions and he has also been consistent in domestic cricket. Arachchige has turned out to be a useful all-rounder and is currently leading Kandy in the ongoing NSL 50-over tournament.

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera misses out on yet another series. After undergoing a surgery for a troublesome left ankle Chameera is said to be “still undergoing his structured return to play program, a part of his rehabilitation program, following his left ankle surgery” according to Sri Lanka Cricket. “Although the cricket selectors included Chameera to both squads, the bowler will not be able to tour,” said the communique. Chameera will be replaced by Matheesha Pathirana in the ODI squad and by Pramod Madushan in the T20I squad.

Missing from the line-up are Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Nuwan Thushara and Jeffrey Vandersay all of whom figured in Sri Lanka’s last white ball series (ODI and T20I) against India in January.

Sri Lanka will play New Zealand in three ODIs on 25 March (Auckland), 28 March (Christchurch) and 31 March (Hamilton) before getting down to the three T20Is scheduled for 2 April (Auckland), 5 April (Dunedin) and 8 April (Queenstown).

Sri Lanka ODI Squad

Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (Vice-Captain, wk/batsman), Angelo Mathews, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana.

Sri Lanka T20I Squad

Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk/batsman), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice-Captain), Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.