Know your opponents: Sri Lanka

By Shashank Timsina | Posted Posted May 31, 2024

Nepal will take on Sri Lanka in their second match of the ICC Men�s T20 World Cup 2024 on June 12 at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill. This will be the first-ever international meeting between the two teams.

Recent performance

Sri Lanka recently played a T20 series against Bangladesh in March 2024, winning the series 2-1. However, they lost their first warm-up match for the T20 World Cup by 20 runs to the Netherlands. They will play their final warm-up match against Ireland on May 31.

Return of the captain

Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of Sri Lanka, is back after missing the Indian Premier League due to a heel injury. He had been out of action for two months, but he made his return for the T20 World Cup preparation matches in Colombo. Known for his leg-spin bowling, Hasaranga has only bowled once in the last four matches, including warm-ups.

All-rounder options

Sri Lanka has several all-rounders in their squad. Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kamindu Mendis are spin bowling all-rounders, while Dasun Shanaka and Angelo Mathews provide pace bowling options. Mathews, who returned to T20I cricket in January after three years, was part of the team that won the T20 World Cup in 2014.

The team also features two pacers with unique slinging bowling actions, Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara, who performed well in the IPL. These bowlers will pose a challenge to the Nepalese batters.

Sri Lanka squad

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, Dilshan Madushanka.�

Traveling Reserves:�Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage.