Cricket: Bhanuka Rajapaksa picked for India ODIs, T20Is; Kumara, Rajitha return from injuries

[banglabhai420]

Uncapped batter Lahiru Udara and seam-bowling allrounder Ishan Jayaratne also named in 25-man squad

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who was fined by SLC earlier this month for a breach of contract, has been named in the 25-member Sri Lanka squad for the rescheduled ODI and T20I series at home against India starting July 18. Uncapped batter Lahiru Udara and seam-bowling allrounder Ishan Jayaratne received call-ups in the absence of several high-profile players.

Returning from injury, Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha also featured in the squad, which was without four of the side's first-choice batters - Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Perera - who are unavailable owing to suspension or injury.

Dasun Shanaka will lead the side, having replaced Perera, who has anyway been ruled out by a shoulder injury. Dhananjaya de Silva was named the vice-captain.

Binura Fernando is not expected to be fit for the ODI series, but could play the T20Is. Minod Bhanuka is likely to be Perera's replacement as wicketkeeper.

Although it is India who have arrived with a second-string squad - their Test players are on duty in England - Sri Lanka have the less experienced group of players to pick from, particularly given the absence of the suspended and injured players. de Silva has the most ODI caps, with 50. In comparison, India's captain Shikhar Dhawan has played 142 ODIs.

Sri Lanka lost all three ODI series they have played this year, going down 3-0 to West Indies, 2-1 to Bangladesh, and 2-0 to England. In T20Is, they have lost 12 of their last 13 completed matches.

Squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dhananjaya DD Silva (vice-capt), Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Udara, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Shiran Fernando, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana

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