Mathews misses out as Sri Lanka name squad for World Cup Qualifiers 2023

Mathews misses out as Sri Lanka name squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Colombo: Sri Lankan selectors have named a 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifier Tournament 2023 which begins on 13th June in Zimbabwe with 8 warm-up games.

Veteran batters Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews were recalled to the ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, however, Mathews was dropped after the 1st ODI while Karunaratne stroked back-to-back fifties in the series to seal his spot in the squad.

Sadeera Samarawickrama, who replaced Mathews in the 2nd and 3rd ODIs, played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s series levelling win in the 2nd ODI and retained his place in the squad.

Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga have returned after injury and both had positive returns in the last two ODIs against Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka squad
Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Kusal Mendis (Vice Captain/Wicket Keeper), Charith Asalanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Sadeera Samarawickrama (Wicket Keeper), Maheesh Theekshana

The wicket-keeper batter Kusal Janith Perera was unable to find a place in the final squad because he is yet to recover from a hamstring injury.

Sri Lanka Team will head to Zimbabwe on 10th June in a bid to secure one of the two remaining slots for the format’s showpiece event in India later this year.