Sri Lanka has announced its 15-man squad for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, with veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and uncapped bowler Dunith Wellalage making the cut. The squad will be led by Wanindu Hasaranga, and Mathews, who previously won the tournament in 2014, will be making his sixth T20 World Cup appearance. The tournament is set to take place from June 1-29 and will be co-hosted by West Indies and the United States.
Mathews recently made his T20 comeback for Sri Lanka in January after a three-year absence from the format. Hasaranga, on the other hand, is returning to the squad after missing out on several tournaments, including the Asia Cup, 50-overs World Cup, and the current IPL, due to a heel injury. Charith Asalanka has been named as his deputy in the squad.
Despite suffering from a hamstring injury picked up during the IPL, bowler Matheesha Pathirana has also been included in the squad. Sri Lanka is scheduled to leave for the World Cup on May 14 and will face South Africa in their opening match on June 3 in New York. They are also set to play against Bangladesh, Nepal, and Netherlands in Group D during the group stages of the tournament.
The squad includes players like Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Dasun Shanaka, among others. Travelling reserves for the team include Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Janith Liyanage. The team is gearing up for an exciting campaign in the T20 World Cup, hoping to make a mark in the tournament under the leadership of Wanindu Hasaranga and the experience of Angelo Mathews. The fans are eager to see how the team performs on the global stage against tough competition from other cricketing nations.
