New Delhi,may 14
Sri Lanka’s national selector Upul Tharanga is still deciding how to balance his team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, but he feels fielding three spinners in the same XI is a viable option. Sri Lanka also has a plethora of spinning options in its T20 World Cup team, including Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Dunith Wellalage, who can provide an extra option alongside skipper Wanindu Hasaranga and ace off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana.Tharanga is still deciding how to balance his team for the T20 World Cup, but he feels fielding three spinners in the same XI is a viable option. “There could be a chance that we play three spinners sometimes. Looking at that is why we picked Dunith (Wellalage), particularly his batting because sometimes we could go with him ahead of a fast-bowling all-rounder,” Tharanga said as quoted by ICC.”As for Dhananjaya, we value his bowling. And about power-hitting, we think we can get that from elsewhere in the side.
In terms of his all-round input, and taking into consideration the conditions, he was a better option,” he added.Selectors are debating how to best balance their XI for the T20 World Cup, while the fitness of a crucial fast bowler is watched. Sri Lanka are hopeful that crucial bowler Matheesha Pathirana will be healthy for the start of next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the island country decides how many spinners to field in their XI.
Pathirana injured his hamstring while playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the present Indian Premier League and was sent back home to Sri Lanka to rehabilitate before the T20 World Cup begins on June 1. “If you look at the conditions in America and the West Indies, most of it is pointing towards the wickets there being quite slow. This could of course change, so it’s a little hard to predict,” Tharanga said.
Sri Lanka squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka.
Travelling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Janith Liyanage.
