Hasaranga to lead Sri Lanka, Pathirana and Mathews in 15-man T20 World Cup squad
T20 World Cup 2024: Sri Lanka have named a strong 15-man squad for the showpiece event, starting June 2 in the West Indies and the USA. Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the side which sees the return of veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews.
In Short
- Sri Lanka named a strong 15-man squad for T20 World Cup
- Angelo Mathews returns to the squad, all set to play 6th T20 World Cup
- Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara named in power-packed pace attack
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will lead a strong Sri Lankan squad at the T20 World Cup 2024, starting June 2 in the USA and the West Indies. Senior all-rounder Angelo Mathews will return to a T20 World Cup squad for the first time since 2016, while young tearaway pacer Matheesha Pathirana was also included despite his injury scare while playing for the Super Kings in IPL 2024.
Sri Lanka also baked their former captain Dasun Shanaka and picked him in the squad along with ODI captain Kusal Mendis and Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva.
Following the trend of teams finding unique ways to announce their World Cup squads, Sri Lanka roped in fans to spell out the names of their T20 World Cup squad.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa is among the four travelling reserves for the T20 World Cup. Leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, who made his IPL debut for SunRisers on May 8, is also part of the travelling reserves.
Sri Lanka have picked both Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana as they bank on their Lasith Malinga-like slingers to create some panic in the opposition camp. Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madhushanka and experienced Dushmantha Chameera is also part of their pace attack.
Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana will join their captain Hasaranga in a strong spin attack for the tournament, which will be played in the USA and the West Indies.
Angelo Mathews, who will feature in his sixth T20 World Cup, will join Shanaka and Dhananjaya as their all-round options in a strong squad.
SRI LANKA SQUAD FOR T20 WORLD CUP 2024
Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), 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
Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Janith Liyanage.
Sri Lanka will open their campaign against South Africa in New York on June 3. They will take on Bangladesh on June 7 before matches against Nepal and Netherlands in Group D in the league stage of the T20 World Cup.