The Sri Lankan Cricket Board announced their squad for the upcoming World Cup 2023 to be played in India starting from 5th October. They have been dealt a major blow as key spinners Wanidu Hasranaga and Dushmanta Chameera due to injuries.
Under the captaincy of Dasun Shanaka, the team made it into the finals of Asia Cup 2023 where they did not have 4 key players including Hasaranga, Chameera, Dilshan Madhushanka, and Lahiru Kumara.
Sri Lanka qualified for the prestigious event by winning and finishing in the top 2 of the ICC World Cup qualifiers. They could not make it into the top 8 stage of the ICC ODI Super League tournament.
Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, and Dimuth Karaunate would be the three opening options. Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samawickrama, Charith Asalanaka, and Dhanajaya de Silva would comprise of middle order. Dasun Shanaka would hope to lead the Lankan side brilliantly.
The pace bowling options include Lahiru Kumara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madhushanka, and Kasun Rajitha. Dunith Wellage, Dushan Hemantha, and Maheesh Theekshana comprise spin bowling options while Dhanajaya de Silva would do the job part-time.
Sri Lanka World Cup schedule
Sri Lanka will start their tournament against Sri Lanka on 7th October at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. After this fixture, they would face Pakistan in match number 2 to be played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 10th October.
They would have a six-day gap before they face Australia on 16th October at Lucknow. Their next encounter will see them face the Netherlands at the same venue on the 21st. The 1996 World Cup champion would take on England in their next match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on 26th October. Sri Lanka will face Afghanistan at Pune on 30th October.
They would face the Indian team on 2nd November at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Sri Lanka will then move their journey ahead with a fixture against Bangladesh on 6th November at New Delhi. They end their group stage campaign at Bengaluru on 9th November 2023.
Here we look at the Sri Lankan team for WC 2023
Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karaunate, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanaka, Sadeera Samawickrama, Dhanajaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellage, Dushan Hemantha, Kasun Rajitha, Mahesh Theekshana, Mahesh Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madhushanka.
Travelling Reserve– Chamika Karaunate
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