Courtesy: Sri Lanka Cricket
Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka leg spinner, has returned to the national team for the upcoming limited-overs tour to New Zealand after recovering from a hamstring injury. After missing the ODI matches against the same opposition at home in Sri Lanka last month, Wanindu Hasaranga will have a chance to make up for lost time in the upcoming three-match series starting from January 5 onwards down under.
The selection committee in Sri Lanka dropped four players from the 16-member ODI squad which took on New Zealand in a three-match series last month, namely Dushan Hemantha, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Dilshan Madushanka. As per the report from Cricbuzz, Dushan Hemantha was the replacement of Wanindu Hasaranga during their home ODI series versus New Zealand in November.
Earlier in the week, Wanindu Hasaranga was also picked in the 16-member T20I squad on the upcoming tour to New Zealand, where the first match will happen on December 28. With the return of the star cricketer, the Sri Lankan cricket team are expected to do well against the Blackcaps especially after winning the three-match ODI series 2-0 at home in his absence.
The Lankan Lions also drew the three-match T20I series 1-1 at home against New Zealand just last month.
Below is the 16-member ODI squad of Sri Lanka for the three-match series vs New Zealand:
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga
