Sri Lanka picks squad for T20 World Cup

SLPL’s young star Akila Dhananjaya wins selection along with Dilshan Munaweera

Sri Lanka has picked two uncapped players including the on-going Sri Lanka Premier League’s young star the under 21 player Akila Dhananjaya as part of its 15-man squad for the next month’s World Cup T20 tournament.

Offspinner Akila plays for Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardena-led Wayamba United and has taken seven wickets in four games which made many to describe him as a promising star. The other uncapped player to be included in Sri Lankan squad is batsman Dilshan Munaweera who plays for Uva Next in SLPL. Both were not featured in the 30-man provisional squad for T20 World Cup which will be played in Sri Lanka from mid-September.
In the 15-man squad other key inclusion is Ajantha Mendis who makes a comeback after having played for Sri Lanka in South Africa in January this year before suffering a back injury. In the SLPL he has so far picked up nine wickets in four games.
Shaminda Eranga, the seamer, has also been picked – he played in the only T20 against India in Pallekele earlier this month. Ten out of the 11 players who played that match feature in the squad for the World T20; the name missing is batsman Upul Tharanga, who wasn’t picked, though he has scores of 65 not out and 48 in the four matches he’s played until now in the SLPL.
The five other players, who didn’t play that T20 against India, are Sangakkara, Kulasekara, Munaweera, Dananjaya and Ajantha Mendis.
A fractured finger during the ODI series against India last month had ruled out Kumar Sangakkara for four to six weeks and his selection in the 15 remains subject to his recovery in time for the competition. Likewise with seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who suffered a groin injury in July.
Sri Lanka play their first warm-up ahead of the World T20 against West Indies on September 13. Their first game of the tournament is against Zimbabwe on September 18.
Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga, Akila Dhanajaya.
 

Sri Lanka’s T20 Squad – Womens Team
1.      Shashikala Siriwardane (Capt)
2.      Sandamali Dolawatha
3.      Delani Manodara
4.      Chamari Attapatu
5.      Deepika Rasangika
6.      Ishani Lokusuriya
7.      Chamani Seneviratne
8.      Sripali Weerakkody
9.      Udeshika Prabodini
10.   Maduri Samudrika
11.   Inoka Ranaweera
12.   Prasadini Weerakkody
13.   Inoka Galagedara
14.   Nilakshi Silva

Akila Dhananjaya
Full name Mahamarakkala Kurukulasooriya Patabendige Akila Dananjaya Perera
Born October 4, 1993, Panadura
Current age 18 years 324 days
Major teams Wayamba United
Playing role Allrounder
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Education Mahanama Vidyalaya, Panadura

Dilshan Munaweera
Full nameEldeniya Meda Gedara Dilshan Yasika Munaweera
Born April 24, 1989, Colombo
Current age 23 years 121 days
Major teams Basnahira North, Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club, Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Academy XI, Sri Lanka Board President’s XI, Sri Lanka Board XI, Sri Lanka Cricket Board President’s XI, Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Sri Lanka Under-21s, Wayamba
Playing role Opening batsman
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Education Nalanda College, Colombo