Selectors await Dasun Shanaka’s return to finalize squad against Afghanistan

Sri Lankan selectors are waiting for the arrival of captain Dasun Shanaka to finalize the squad for the upcoming three ODIs against Afghanistan. 

The 31-year-old all-rounder is in India playing for the Gujarat Titans team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

"The selectors have not finalized the team and await captain Shanaka to join the meeting," a source revealed to Daily Mirror. 

"Yes, he could have been consulted over the tele-conference but as we have to play the qualifying matches (in Zimbabwe) for the World Cup, the selectors feel that his personal attendence for his inputs are important". 

Shanaka's team is playing in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians today, and is expected to return to his country either on Saturday or Sunday depending on how far the Titans make it in the play-offs. 

"The Sri Lankan team will be leaving for Hambantota on Monday. Once Shanka is here, we will immediately finalise the squad," the source explained. 

Kusal Janith Perera is not fully recovered and is certainly out of the 30-member provisional squad which has been named but yet to be finalized. 

Pathum Nissanka, the 25-year-old top order batter, who was recently injured seems to have recovered well, it is learnt. 

The three selectors are believed to have shared their assignments, and accordingly, Romesh Kaluwitharana is likely to be in Hambantota for the three ODIs, with chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe likely to travel to Zimbabwe. 

Hemantha Wickramaratne will be in Kandy for the A team against the visiting South Africa team. 

Incidentally, the Sri Lanka A team will have a new captain. 

A possible candidate Kamindu Mendis is suffering from dengue and is out of the matches.  

(Bipin Dani)