Sri Lanka recall Rajapaksa and Vandersay for West Indies T20Is

Sri Lanka have left out former skipper Dasun Shanaka and Dushmantha Chameera and added Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Jeffrey Vandersay to their squad for the three-match T20I series against the West Indies, starting on October 13 in Dambulla.

Rajapaksa, who last played a T20I in January 2023, has been in great form of late. The left-handed batter played six games for St Lucia Kings and hit 127 runs at a strike rate of 141.11. He was brilliant in the Lanka Premier League in July, scoring 236 runs at a strike rate of 163.88.

Meanwhile, Vandersay hasn’t played a T20I for Sri Lanka since March 2022. The leg spinner was impressive in the couple of ODIs against India in August. Vandersay scalped eight wickets in two games, including a six-wicket haul. 

While Chameera has regularly struggled with injuries, Shanaka’s form has been terrible. The seam-bowling all-rounder has a batting average of 11.67 in 14 T20Is he has played this year. In the bowling department, Shanaka has eight wickets at an economy of 8.7.

Squad - Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando

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