Sri Lanka Test Cricket captain Dimuth Karunaratne has been added to the preliminary squad named for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

Karunaratne the 35-year-old left-hand opener has vast experience as a top-order batter and his availability at this stage is very important for the Sri Lanka team.

Sri Lankan selectors have added Dimuth Karunaratne as cover for openers Kusal Janith Perera and Pathum Nissanka who have injury concerns. Kusal Janith Perera the wicket-keeper batter had a shoulder injury during the last series in Australia and underwent surgery and returned to the National side at the last New Zealand ODI and T-20 series but at the last game once again he was injured and he couldn’t get clearance from the doctors while opener Pathum Nissanka also came after recovery to e New Zealand once again not completely fit and National selectors look on Karunaratne as top order batter for the ODI squad for both Afghanistan series as well as forthcoming World Cup qualification tournament in Zimbabwe.Dimuth Karunaratne has been Sri Lanka’s most prolific test batter in recent years but he was dropped from the ODI side along with several seniors due to selectors wanting to give opportunities to youngsters.

But now with the World Cup qualification on the line, Selectors have decided to add experience to the squad by adding both Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne to the preliminary squad while Dinesh Chandimal is also next in line.

Dimuth Karunaratne who has played 86 test matches and 34 ODI’s having good experience as an opener while he played his last ODI in 2021 March 14 against West Indies at North Sound. Karunarathna recently played two T20 matches at BPL in Dhaka and scored an unbeaten 70 and 21 for the Shinepokur team in the Dhaka Premier League tournament. He also had the opportunity to play Australia League white ball tournament and once again got a chance to enter the National white ball squad.

Dimuth Karunaratne was picked for the 2019 World Cup in England as captain and once again he has a good chance to enter the World Cup team.

As a top-order batsman, Dimuth Karunaratne has shown his consistent batting performance at test cricket and selectors wanted an experienced top-order batter to fill the gap at National ODI team. At the moment opener, Avishka Fernando is also not in fine form while the Sri Lanka ODI team wanted an opening pair to lay at good foundation for the team and inclusion of Dimuth Karunaratne is a bold decision by National selectors.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee already selected a 30-member preliminary ODI squad and they hope to prune it down it to 20 for Afghanistan there match ODI series which will commence from June 2 at Hambantota.