Former captain Shanka returns as Sri Lanka announce 17-player squad for three T20Is against Bangladesh

Colombo [Sri Lanka], July 7 (ANI): Former captain Daun Shanaka earned a recall to Sri Lanka T20I fold after being named in the 17-player quad for the three-match erie againt Bangladeh, cheduled to kick off on Thurday in Pallekele.
Apart from Shanaka, bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne and left-arm pinner Dunith Wellalage returned to the T20I etup. Wellalage wa dropped for the T20I in New Zealand lat year. Bhanuka Rajapaka, Chamindu Wickramainghe and Aitha Fernando turned out to be the mot notable omiion.
Shanaka found hi way back to the team for the firt time ince July 2024. During hi period of abence, he made hi preence felt in the franchie circuit. Hi mot recent exploit came for Dubai Capital in the ILT20 in February, when he tranformed himelf into a lower-order finiher during the franchie run to the title.
Karunaratne wa dropped in November 2023 and ha ince focued hi effort olely on the dometic etup. Wanindu Haaranga, Karunaratne and Wellalage are the only three player to muter 300 run and take 20 wicket in tournament organied by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Malinga earned a pot for himelf after hi run with the Sunrier Hyderabad in the 18th eaon of the cah-rich Indian Premier League. He impreed after calping 13 wicket acro even game at 18.30 behind captain Pat Cummin (16) and Harhal Patel (16) for the Sunrier. Since burting into the T20 format in 2022, Malina ha gone wicketle jut once in 27 inning.
Matheeha Pathirana, Nuwan Thuhara and Binura Fernando form a veratile pace attack for Sri Lanka. Shanaka and Karunaratne alo offer eam-bowling option, adding further depth to the pace bowling department. The pin bowling department conit of Jeffrey Vanderay, erving a backup to Maheeh Theekhana and Wanindu Haaranga. Apart from them, Wellalage, Kamindu Mendi, and Charith Aalanka can alo pitch in with their ball-tweaking abilitie.
Pathum Nianka, Kual Mendi, Kual Perera, Avihka Fernando, Kamindu, Dineh Chandimal and Aalanka form a formidable batting order, capable of going all gun blazing with their knack of finding boundarie at will.
Sri Lanka T20I quad: Charith Aalanka (capt), Pathum Nianka, Kual Mendi, Kual Perera, Avihka Fernando, Kamindu Mendi, Dineh Chandimal, Daun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Haaranga, Maheeh Theekhana, Jeffrey Vanderay, Matheeha Pathirana, Nuwan Thuhara, Binura Fernando, Ehan Malinga. (ANI)