Strong batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa was on Friday returned to Sri Lanka’s one-day squad for the five-match home series against Australia starting next week. The 30-year-old announced his shock retirement in January before withdrawing a week later and was overlooked for the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka. India on the basis of fitness.
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He returned to Sri Lanka’s T20 squad against Australia after an impressive Indian Premier League season with Punjab Kings.
Left-arm uncapped spinner Dunith Velalez has also been included in the 21-man squad led by Dasun Shanaka.
Australia have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing T20I series with the third and final match to be held in Kandy on Saturday.
Sri Lanka ODI Team: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nisanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charit Aslanka, Dhananjay de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Niroshan Dickwella, Vanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chamira, Asita F. , Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Velalage, Pramod Madushan
Sri Lanka vs Australia ODI Schedule
- 1st ODI – June 14, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekeli
- 2nd ODI – 16 June, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
- 3rd ODI – June 19, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- 4th ODI – June 21, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- 5th ODI – June 24, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Meanwhile, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc has been ruled out of the first couple of One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Sri Lanka, starting June 14, and could possibly miss the entire white-ball series as he has to play the opening T20Is. I had suffered a strange injury. Colombo 7 June.
While the left-arm seamer was suspected of inclusion in the ODI series, as his bowling finger inflicted a serious injury by accidentally rubbing on the spikes of his shoe, and later required six stitches, cricket.com A news in Thursday said he will miss at least one or two ODIs and will likely be ruled out of the entire white-ball series.
Starc, however, will be available for the two-Test series in Galle from June 29. As a backup, Cricket Australia had already included fast bowler Jhye Richardson in their ODI squad.
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The report said Nathan McAndrew will join the Australia A squad as cover for Richardson, who has been “promoted to the ODI group to basically earn selection for the T20 leg of the all-format tour”.
Both the teams are currently playing in a three-match T20I series with Australia leading 2-0. The third and last T20 match will be played on Saturday.
The ODI series will be followed by two Tests and both the Tests will be played in Galle.
With IANS inputs
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