SL vs BAN | Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne return to Sri Lanka squad for T20Is

‌Former captain Dasun Shanaka returned to the T20 fold as Sri Lanka announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh. Bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne also makes a comeback with pacer Asitha Fernando being the notable omission from the side.

Shanaka last played a T20I for the Lankans almost a year ago when he featured in the second match of the three-game series against India at Pallekele in July 2024. Meanwhile, Karunaratne had to wait longer for his comeback as he will be in contention to figure in the Sri Lanka playing eleven for the first time in more than two years.

Pacer Eshan Malinga got his maiden call-up in the shortest format of the game after his impressive showing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2025 campaign. He will be part of the four-man pace attack alongside Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando.

The spin department will once again be helmed by the Rajasthan Royals duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga with leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage rounding off the attack. Wellalage finds his way back into the squad after missing out on the T20Is during the New Zealand tour.

The batting presents a stable look with Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Kusal Perera joining skipper Charith Asalanka. However, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, along with all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe, failed to make the cut.

The T20I leg of the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh series will follow the ODI series and is scheduled to start in Pallekele on July 10. The second and third matches are set to take place in Dambulla and Colombo on July 13 and 16, respectively.

Sri Lanka squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Eshan Malinga.