NEW DELHI: Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s star all-rounder, has been picked for the country’s 16-member team for the forthcoming Asia Cup, which will be held in the UAE starting September 9. This addition comes even though he hurt his hamstring recently and has been unable to go on Sri Lanka’s current trip of Zimbabwe.
Hasaranga hurt himself during a recent series against Bangladesh, which Sri Lanka lost at home. People were worried about his fitness for the Asia Cup because he wasn’t on the Zimbabwe trip, which started with the first ODI on Friday. But the fact that he was picked for the continental tournament shows that the Sri Lanka Cricket board thinks he will get better soon.
The 16-man team, which is led by Charith Asalanka, has a strong spin attack and two young batters, Kamil Mishara and Nuwanidu Fernando. Hasaranga will be accompanied by other spinners Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana, giving the team a lot of choices for spin bowling.
Sri Lanka, who came in second in the last Asia Cup final in 2023, will be trying to make a good comeback. They are in Group B with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.
They will start their Asia Cup campaign with a game against Bangladesh on September 13. Then they will play Hong Kong on September 15 and Afghanistan on September 18. This competition will be very important for the island nation to be ready for next year’s T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with India.
The Sri Lanka Asia Cup team includes Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, and Matheesha Pathirana.