Shanaka to lead SL against Pakistan to finalise preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup

Dasun Shanaka will lead Sri Lanka as the team gears up to take on Pakistan in a three-T20I series in Dambulla. The series will help both teams finalise their preparations for the T20 World Cup next month, which is why Sri Lanka have named a few new faces in their squad.

Being captained by Shanaka, who replaced Charith Asalanka in December, the Sri Lanka team has many questions to answer in this series.

Interestingly, players including Niroshan Dickwella, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Milan Rathnayake, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth have been made part of the squad for the series, despite not being in the preliminary squad for the World Cup.

Thus, Sri Lanka will look to give one last look at their combinations in this series. That is, however, rain-permitting. Dambulla has received heavy rain in the last 24 hours, and the forecast for all three game days doesn’t look too promising either. Earlier, Pakistan’s training session was cancelled for the same reason.

Sri Lanka squad

Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Traveen Mathew, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.

Pakistan squad

Salman Agha (Captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

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