Sri Lanka put off naming team for Zimbabwe match

Sri Lanka will open its campaign in the Triangular cricket tournament with a match against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi today with play scheduled to get underway at 6.30 pm Sri Lanka time and put off naming the playing Eleven until the evening of the match.

It remains to be seen whether the uncapped leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth would be in the line-up having been called up at the last moments while representing the Sri Lanka second string team in Qatar at the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.

If he plays he will be the first cricketer from Jaffna to represent Sri Lanka and is a product of Jaffna Central College.

He currently plays for the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in Colombo.

Although uncapped, Viyaskanth (23) is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with rival players as he was a member of the Sunrises Hyderabad team that played in the last IPL in India.

Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushan Hemantha are the other spinners in the Sri Lanka squad along with Viyaskanth.

Sri Lanka will meet Zimbabwe on Thursday in Rawalpindi before meeting Pakistan at the same venue on Saturday.

Also taken into the squad is batsman Pavan Ratnayake in place of Charith Asalanka who has returned home after the ODI series.

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Pavan Ratnayake, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth