Sri Lanka Squad, World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka will be without Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga in the ODI World Cup. Dasun Shanaka, whose role as captain has been much speculated upon for the past few weeks, will lead the team in India through October and November.
The only change in the World Cup 2023 team :-
The rest of the 15-man squad is as expected, with the only changes from the Asia Cup finalist squad being the inclusion of Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara.
Fast bowlers Pramod Madushan and Binura Fernando are making their way into the World Cup squad. Chamika Karunaratne has been named as traveling reserve.
Of those who have missed the World Cup, Chameera’s absence will probably be felt the most.
Fast bowler Chameera last played for Sri Lanka in June :-
31-year-old fast bowler Chameera last played for Sri Lanka in a warm-up match against Afghanistan in June and the World Cup Qualifier. After that, he was initially ruled out due to a torn pectoral muscle, which he suffered ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe. And, after recovering from that, he injured himself again in the Lanka Premier League in August. He also missed the T20 World Cup in Australia last year due to an ankle injury.
There was some degree of optimism that he would be fit for at least a part of this World Cup, but despite opening the bowling in the nets, he has not been able to do so consistently without any trouble.
World Cup 2023:What is the condition of Wanindu Hasaranga :-
As far as Hasaranga is concerned, SLC has been less optimistic. But there were murmurs that he might have been included with the hope that he would be fit to play in the latter stages of the tournament – such is the importance of his all-round talent for team balance.
“Wanindu Hasaranga has not been included in the 15-man squad as the player is still in the process of recovering from the injury,” an SLC statement said. “His recovery will be monitored, and if he is declared fit to play, he will be considered as a replacement in case a team member is injured during the tournament.”
Injuries in Sri Lanka’s bowling unit a matter of concern :-
Injury concerns are a theme in Sri Lanka’s bowling unit at present, with at least three frontline bowlers returning from injury. Spinner Mahesh Theekshana is making a comeback after a hamstring injury sustained in the Asia Cup, while Madushanka has recently recovered from a torn oblique muscle. Meanwhile, Kumara missed the entire Asia Cup due to a side strain. He also has a worrying history of missing games due to the same recurring injuries.
This means there could be game time not only for the team’s other fast bowlers – Mathisha Pathirana and Kasun Rajitha – but also for traveling reserve, seam-bowling all-rounder Karunaratne.
Sri Lankan batsmen are comparatively not in very bad health :-
Fortunately for Sri Lanka, their batsmen are not in very bad health comparatively, although their form and consistency is a cause for concern, especially after their disappointing performance in the Asia Cup final, where India bowled them out for 50. Had given.
It is likely that Kusal Perera will keep Dimuth Karunaratne out of the starting eleven and open with Pathum Nissanka. Perera is one of three wicketkeeping options in the squad along with Sadira Samarawickrama and Kusal Mendis – who kept wicket for the entire Asia Cup – and all three are expected to be in the squad.
Sri Lanka’s middle order also finds itself picking up with Samarawickrama coming in at number four, followed by Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva at number five and six respectively.
With this Shanaka has become at number 7. Head coach Chris Silverwood had given clear support to Shanaka immediately after the Asia Cup final, in the hope that a good innings would be enough to get him out of his troubles.
The board had said this in the media statement :-
The Sri Lankan selectors also chose to take a more holistic approach on Shanaka’s performance as captain. At a special meeting held after the Asia Cup, top SLC officials as well as members of the selection committee including Silverwood, consultant coach Mahela Jayawardene, team manager Mahinda Halangoda and chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe gave the current outline of the team.
“During the meeting the selectors explained the desired composition of the World Cup squad and possible contingency plans for replacement if such measures were required,” the board said in a media statement at the time. “During the meeting, everyone present agreed that the national team is going in the right direction to make further progress.”
Sri Lanka will begin its World Cup with warm-up matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Guwahati on September 29 and October 3, before the first official match of the tournament against South Africa in Delhi on October 7.
Sri Lanka ODI World Cup Team :-
Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Mendis (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Dimuth Karunaratne, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjay de Silva, Sadira Samarawickrama (wk), Dushan Hemantha, Mahish Theekshana, Dunith Velalej, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Mathisha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara
Travel Reserved: Chamika Karunaratne
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