The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup in India. Dasun Shanaka will lead the side in the mega ICC event which will be played from October 5 to November 19, 2023. Sri Lanka didn’t get direct entry into the World Cup as they had to take part in the qualifiers to book their spot. Shanaka and Co. beat Netherlands in the ICC World Cup qualifiers final and entered the tournament as the ninth team.
Sri Lanka will miss the services of ace-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in the World Cup as he is still recovering from his hamstring injury. However, SLC has stated that he will be considered as a replacement in case any squad player gets injured during the tournament.
“Wanindu Hasaranga has not been included in the 15-member squad as the player is still in the process of recovering from an injury. His recovery will be monitored, and if he is declared fit to play, he will be considered as a replacement in the event of an injury to a squad member during the tournament,” the SLC said in the statement.
Sri Lanka reveals its squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023!Let’s rally behind the #LankanLions #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/niLO7C7RPY
— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) September 26, 2023
The island nation is still smarting from its ignominious defeat by India at the six-nation Asia Cup finals this month in which they were all out for just 50 runs.
The thrashing on home soil prompted scathing social media attacks on the board and its players, and demands for Shanaka’s sacking.
“Perhaps it’s time Sri Lanka moved on from Shanaka before the country ends up being an absolute joke in the World Cup,” the Daily Mirror said in a scathing editorial last week.
But after much internal debate, the board decided to stick with him and the rest of the team, a Sri Lanka Cricket source told AFP.
Sri Lanka won the 1996 title and has reached the finals twice, in 2007 and 2011.
The team will leave for India on the September 26 evening.
Squad: Dasun Shanaka – Captain, Kusal Mendis – Vice Captain, Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara. Dilshan Madushanka
Travelling Reserve
Chamika Karunaratne
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