Sri Lanka likely to field same T-20 squad for NZ series
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Sri Lanka is planning to name the same T-20 squad which was named for the last West Indies series for the forthcoming New Zealand two match series scheduled to be played from November 9 at Dambulla. Sri Lanka is also looking to improve T-20 and ODI ranking and at the same time they are more focused on ICC world test championship ranking to enter the final. The next four test matches two against South Africa and 2 home Test matches against Australia also very vital for Sri Lanka team and if they win 3 out of 4 they have a good chance of entering world test championship final.
At the moment selectors have decided to name same squad captained by Charith Asalanka for this two match series and they wanted to maintain Sri Lanka team’s good momentum after recent successful West Indies series. However they have an idea to make few changers in the ODI squad for the three New Zealand ODI series which will commence on November 13 at Dambulla followed by second and third ODI on 17 and 19 at Pallekele.
They had early plan to make few changers from T-20 squad and use key players like Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Asitha Fernando for the red ball format focused on next South Africa two test series. But team management request to get same squad for this New Zealand series to keep winning mentality and to improve the ICC ranking at this stage. The short format specialist Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kusal Janith Perera the dashing stroke makers with young two pacemen Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara and spinners, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalalge, Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Jeffrey Vandersay have been named for this squad while openers Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis and skipper Charith Asalanka are the batsmen while Dinesh Chandimal also in the squad but he will join Sri Lanka red ball squad for the South Africa as soon as they finish the T-20 series. Asitha Fernando oo will join the test squad after the T-20 two matches against New Zealand.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka already made a decision to send test specialist players for the South Africa series little bit earlier for their two test match series. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Oshada Fernando Prabath Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Milan Ratnayake and Lahiru Kumara most probably will tour South Africa on November 12 with two coaches for the pre preparation to adjust to the condition sin South Africa. The first test against South Africa will be played from November 27 to December 1 at Durban while second test is scheduled to be held from December 5 to 9 at Gqeberha while no practice match is available for the Sri Lanka team before the test series and the two weeks pre preparation period is very important for the Sri Lanka players. In addition Sri Lanka team management also has an idea to get a South African specialist coach for the Sri Lanka team during this tour. Last England test series Sri Lanka got the services of batting specialist coach Ian Bell.
Meanwhile Selectors also have an idea to add few stand-by players from Sri Lanka ‘A’ team such as Eshan Malinga, Lahiru Udara for the New Zealand white ball series and they will join Sri Lanka ‘A team for the Pakistan tour after the New Zealand series. Pakistan ‘A’ cricket tour will commence from November 11 with four day game while the players who is named for the standbys for National team for New Zealand series will join f the Pakistan tour for ODI Pakistan ‘A’ matches which will commence from November 25.
After New Zealand last ODI on November 19 the rest of the players of the test squad will join the South Africa tour.