Over two years after his last appearance in a 50-over international cricket match, opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne has been called up to Sri Lanka’s ODI squad. Dushmantha Chameera, a fast bowler who missed the March 2023 New Zealand trip due to ankle surgery, is also back.
The only uncapped player in the 16-man team that will play Afghanistan in three ODIs beginning on Friday is the all-rounder with a leg spin, Dushan Hemantha. But because wicketkeeper Kusal Perera is sidelined with a hamstring injury, there was no room for left-arm spinning all-rounder Dunith Wellalage.
After having guided Sri Lanka in the 2019 World Cup, Karunaratne’s presence suggests that the selection committee is prepared to rely on his expertise in a World Cup year once more. They had also called up Angelo Mathews earlier in the year, and Dhananjaya de Silva has consistently batted in the middle order.
Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka might be ready to make their debuts together. For this series, Nuwanidu Fernando, who had opened the batting in New Zealand, was not chosen.
The choice of Hemantha, 29, caught everyone off guard. This year’s National Super League, Sri Lanka’s most competitive List A competition, had not seen him play particularly well with the bat. But in eight games, he had taken 13 wickets at an average of 23.61, showing off his strong bowling ability.
He may be there to serve as cover for Wanindu Hasaranga, who is reportedly “currently undergoing rehabilitation for a foot injury,” per a Sri Lanka Cricket press release. Maheesh Theekshana is the squad’s lone additional frontline spinner.
With Chameera back in the lineup along with Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, and Matheesha Pathirana, the seam assault seems especially potent. Pathirana recently put on a strong performance as a key player in the IPL, although he has never taken part in an ODI. Another seam-bowling alternative is the all-arounder Chamika Karunaratne.
The lineup of batters is very predictable. With players like Charith Asalanka, Mathews, and de Silva making up the middle order, Kusal Mendis is most likely to take the field and bat at No. 3. Although he hasn’t played an ODI since 2019, Sadeera Samarawickrama, who just scored his first Test century against Ireland, has also been chosen for these matches.
It will be Hambantota where all three games are played. The World Cup, for which Afghanistan has already qualified, will be part of their preparation for it. In the meanwhile, Sri Lanka has not yet claimed its position. These matches will serve as practice for the qualification event that they must play in Zimbabwe next month.
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana
