Dasun Shanaka appointed T-20 skipper

By Rex Clementine

All-rounder Dasun Shanaka will lead the national cricket team in the upcoming T-20 series in  the Caribbean and he is expected to be retained in the position for the World T-20 later this year. The 29-year-old has been waiting patiently to be named skipper in the long run after beating number one ranked Pakistan in their own backyard two years ago.

Meanwhile the two member selection panel involving Pramodaya Wickramasinghe and Chaminda Mendis have dropped several players who had failed the recent fitness test. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dilruwan Perera and Santhush Gunathilaka were not considered for selection. Although Danushka Gunathilaka also failed the fitness test, an exception has been made in his case as both openers Kusal Janith Perera  and Avishka Fernando are injured.

While KJP is nursing a back injury, Avishka has hurt his ankle. Avishka also would have been ineligible for selection as he had failed two fitness tests inside ten days and didn’t take part in the two kilometer run.  

Kusal Mendis and Isuru Udana were not considered for selections as they are injured.  While Mendis is nursing a shoulder injury, Udana is down with a hamstring injury.

The newcomers in the side are Pathtum Nissanka,  Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara  and Dilshan Madushanka. The 20 member Sri Lanka white ball squad will leave for the Caribbean on Monday night.  

The Test squad too will comprise 20 players and they are expected to fly on 7th March. Dhananjaya de Silva who was injured in South Africa is expected to be fit for the Test series.  

Dimuth Karunaratne has recovered from injuries and will lead Test and  ODI squads.