Sri Lanka has made late changes to its squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Pakistan, with skipper Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando returning home due to illness. The tri-series, which also features Pakistan and Zimbabwe, is set to begin on November 22.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the changes on Monday, stating that both Asalanka and Fernando are suffering from illnesses. "Captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home. The two players will not take part in the upcoming tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe," SLC said in a statement.
Dasun Shanaka will now captain the Sri Lankan team in Asalanka's absence. Shanaka has previously served as captain and brings a wealth of experience to the role. Pavan Rathnayake has been added to the squad as a replacement for Asitha Fernando.
The decision to send Asalanka and Fernando home is a precautionary measure to ensure they receive proper care and have sufficient time to recover ahead of future assignments. The nature of their illnesses has not been disclosed.
This series follows Sri Lanka's recent 3-0 defeat to Pakistan in the ODI series. The change in leadership and squad adjustments may impact Sri Lanka's performance as they look to regroup and compete in the T20 format.
The updated Sri Lanka squad for the tri-series is as follows:
- Dasun Shanaka (Captain)
- Pavan Rathnayake
The SLC has not yet announced any further changes to the squad. The tri-series presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to test their T20I skills against strong opposition in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Fans will be keen to see how the team performs under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka and how the new players integrate into the squad.
