Ashish Ranjan
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) selection committee has announced a 15-man squad that will travel to Zimbabwe for the upcoming ODI World Cup Qualifiers. The Sri Lankan delegation approved by Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, will depart for Africa on June 10.
Notably, the SLC also verified that consultant coach and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will travel with the national team for the crucial qualifiers. SLC also confirmed that a limited support staff will be sent for the qualifiers, with more members added if the team qualifies for the 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be contested in India in October-November.
“We can only dispatch a small number of support staff to Zimbabwe. Prof. Arjuna de Silva, chairman of the SLC medical panel, was quoted by The Daily Mirror as saying, “Yes, if our team qualifies for the World Cup, we will make every effort to send them.”
The Sri Lankan Lions are headed to the important ICC competition on the heels of a 2-1 victory over Afghanistan in the recently concluded three-match ODI series at home. The World Cup Qualifiers are scheduled to begin on June 18 and the finals are scheduled for July 9.
Sri Lanka is placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Oman, Scotland, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, ten nations are participating in the Qualifiers, whose winners will earn spots in the ODI World Cup in India.
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On June 13 and 15, the team led by Dasun Shanaka will play two warm-up matches against the Netherlands and the United States, respectively. The Sri Lankan Lions will commence their group phase campaign against the UAE on Monday, June 19.
Sri Lanka squad for ODI World Cup Qualifiers
Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc & wk), Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushan Hemantha
