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Avishka, Eshan lose place in ODI squad for Zimbabwe

Top order batsman Avishka Fernando and fast bowler Eshan Malinga have lost their places in the Sri Lanka ODI team named for the three-match series in Zimbabwe.

The 16-member squad sees three changes from the one that won the series at home against Bangladesh 2-1. Missing from that line-up are Avishka Fernando, Eshan Malinga and leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.

Avishka and Malinga lose their places due to poor form while Hasaranga has still not fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered in his right leg during the third and final ODI against Bangladesh last month. Avishka, although named in Sri Lanka’s ODI squad against Bangladesh didn’t play a single game in the series.

They have been replaced by top order batsmen Nuwanidu Fernando and uncapped Pavan Rathnayake.

Nuwanidu who played the last of his 5 ODIs for Sri Lanka in November 2024 has been knocking on the door for a recall with some outstanding batting for Sri Lanka ‘A’ over the past one month against Australia ‘A’ on their recent tour there, and also in the recently concluded SLC T20 League where he was the leading run scorer with 155 runs (avg. 77.50).

22-year-old right-hander Rathnayake has, like Nuwanidu, been sounding the selectors with some consistent performances for Sri Lanka ‘A’ on the tour to Australia and in the Major Club Limited Over tournament where he helped his club CCC clinch the title with a spectacular knock of 158 off just 94 balls in the final against Police SC.

Other than these two changes the rest of the squad remains unchanged from the series against Bangladesh with fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera taking the place of Hasaranga. Chameera was drafted into the squad as the 17th player for the Bangladesh series and appeared in the last two ODIs.

Sri Lanka last played Zimbabwe in an ODI tri-series in Zimbabwe 17 years ago in 2008 when they swamped the hosts 5-0. The last bilateral series between the two countries took place in January when Sri Lanka won the three-match series 2-0 (1 no-result).

Sri Lanka leave for Zimbabwe today and play their first ODI at Harare on 29 August.

Sri Lanka ODI squad for Zimbabwe

Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, and Dilshan Madushanka.

Source: Daily FT