Avishka Fernando replaces injured Pathum Nissanka for Bangladesh T20Is

Pathum Nissanka has failed to recover in time from the hamstring injury he sustained during the home series against Afghanistan and will now miss the upcoming T20I series in Bangladesh. Selectors had hoped that Nissanka would be fit in time and had named him in the squad, but that didn’t turn out to be the case.

While Avishka Fernando has been named a replacement for the opener, legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay has been recalled to the side as well to fill in the void created by the absence of skipper Wanindu Hasaranga. 

The Sri Lanka T20 skipper has been suspended for two games following his public criticism of the ICC umpires after the Afghanistan series. Hasaranga will be available for selection for the third T20I and in his absence, Charith Asalanka will lead the team. 

While Fernando had last played a T20I in January 2023, he has made a comeback based on his ODI form. In the Afghanistan series, he scored a 91 and an 88 to force the selectors to back him for the shortest format of the game. On the other hand, Vandersay had last played in February 2022 and found himself out of favour after a string of poor performances.

The Island nation will travel to Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs before concluding the series with a couple of Tests. 

Sri Lanka squad

Wanindu Hasaranga (C), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dilshan Madushanka