Sri Lanka have made changes to their squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and hosts Pakistan. In an official statement, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando will miss the series due to illness. According to SLC, both players will return home as a precautionary measure.
“Two Players Returning Home: Captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home. The two players will not take part in the upcoming tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe,” SLC said in a statement.
“This precautionary decision ensures they receive proper care and sufficient time to recover ahead of future assignments. Dasun Shanaka to Captain With Asalanka unavailable. Pavan Rathnayake has been added to the T20I squad as a replacement,” it added.
In the absence of the regular captain, former captain and seasoned all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been appointed to lead the side for the tri-series in Pakistan. Shanaka brings huge experience, having previously captained Sri Lanka across formats. The tri-series is seen as a crucial platform for Sri Lanka to fine-tune their combinations and assess bench strength ahead of the T20I World Cup next year.