Young right arm leg spinner Wanindu Hasranga gets Maidan call up for the first two matches of five match ODI series against Zimbabwe, starting from 30th June.
A dashing middle order batsman as well, Hasaranga has long been knocking the door of the national team, and Seekuge Prasanna injury during training camp paved the way for him.
Selectors also made a brave call, by dropping Dinesh Chandimal and Thisara Perera from the ODI setup. Chandimal has himself to blame for the fate as the 27-year-old’s contribution in the Champions Trophy was a 12 and duck. In the opening game of the tournament against South Africa, he scored 12, didn’t get to bat in the following match against India and in a crucial fixture with Pakistan which gave them an opportunity to qualify for the knockouts he returned with a nought.
Perera, on the other hand, featured in their last two CT games where he picked up two wickets. He bowled well in the game against India where all the bowlers were hit for runs the medium pacer spent just 54 runs and picked up a wicket bringing his experience to the fore in the death overs.
But he dropped the most important catch of the tournament and also Sri Lanka’s chance of making it to the semi-finals as he grassed a straightforward chance of Pakistani captain Sarfraz Ahmed who went on to lead his team to a win in a game Sri Lanka dominated for the major part and eventually the championship title.
Akila Dhananjaya, the mystery spinner also gets a chance after being ignored for long time.
Sri Lankan Squad
Angelo Mathews (C), Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhanushka Gunathilake, Asela Gunarathne, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga DE Silva, Nuwan Pradeep, Akila Dhananjaya, Lakshan sadaken, Lahiru Madushanka, Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha chameera
