Sri Lanka have named Young batting prodigy Charith Asalanka to captain U23 emerging Team in the Upcoming Emerging Asia Cup. In a strong squad, selectors have included Sri Lanka’s future prospects like Shammu Ashan, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Hasitha Boyagoda and Jehan Daniel in order to give them much needed exposure.
Asalanka, an elegant left-hand batsman, was part of national team during the second test against England recently. Kamindu Mendis, meanwhile, has already debuted at international level during the one off T20I against England.
The new selection committee, headed by Asantha De Mel, has already started to show the ‘vision for the future’ as Boyagoda and Avishka Fernando have also been included. During the disasterous one and half year tenure of Graeme Labrooy tenure, both the players were completely discarded.
In another innovate move, Sri Lanka Star batsman Asela Gunaratne has also been added into the squad in order to give him a chance to reclaim his place in the national squad after recovering from the injury, as acording to the tournament rules four overage players could include from the test playing nations.
Sri Lanka will Co-host the 50 over ‘Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2018’, along with Pakistan, which will have 8 teams, competing in two groups.
Sri Lanka will host the group ‘’A’’ matches, knockout stage matches and the finals of the tournament; while Pakistan will host the group ‘’B’’ matches.
The Group ‘A;’ of the tournament consists of Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan and Oman; whilst the Group ‘B’ consist of Pakistan, Bangladesh; UAE and Hong Kong.
The tournament will kick start with Group ‘B’ games commencing on the 06th December in Pakistan, while the matches in Sri Lanka will commence on the 07th December.
Squad :
Charith Asalanka – Capt
Shammu Ashan
Kamindu Mendis
Avishka Fernando
H Boyagoda
S Weerakkody
Asela Gunaratne
Nishan Madushka
J Vandersay
L Ambuldeniya
Nishan Peiris
S Madushanka
Asitha Fernando
J Daniel
Chamika Karunaratne
