Sri Lanka add five more players to their T20 World Cup squad

Lakshan Sandakan, Ramesh Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Minod Bhanuka and Ashen Bandara have been added to the Sri Lanka squad for the T20 World Cup. The addition of the five players has taken the total number of players who’ll board the flight to the UAE to 23. The team will depart for Oman on October 3 where they will play two T20Is on October 7 and 9 before playing two T20 World Cup warm-up games on October 12 and 14.

"Sri Lanka Cricket’s Selection Committee included 05 more additional players to join the Sri Lanka squad taking part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021,” SLC said in a statement.

“Accordingly, a total of 23 players will consist of Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad. Sri Lanka Team will leave for Oman on October 3, 2021.

SLC recently roped in former skipper Mahela Jayawardene as a mentor for the T20 World Cup. Jayawardena will give his services to the team till the Super 12s stage given that Sri Lanka qualifies for the next round. 

They are clubbed with Ireland, Namibia and Netherlands in Group A and will have to win two games to go through. Sri Lanka have seen a massive slump of late. They did beat a second-string India in the T20I series but suffered a crushing 3-0 loss to South Africa at home soon after. 

Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Praveen Jayawickrama, Maheesh Theekshana, Pathum Nissanka, Minod Bhanuka, Ashen Bandara, Lakshan Sandakan, and Ramesh Mendis.

Reserves: Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Pulina Tharanga.