SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka announce 16-man squad for two-ODI series against Australia

The SL vs AUS ODI series will be played in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) named a 16-man squad for the upcoming two-match ODI series against Australia. The squad is almost similar to the one that played the ODI series in New Zealand last month, with the exception of seam-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who has been left out.

Sri Lanka recently lost the two-test series against Steve Smith’s team in Galle by 2-0. The two-ODI series will be played at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on February 12 and 14. In January, Sri Lanka lost the three-ODI series by 2-1 in New Zealand.

This upcoming SL vs AUS series doesn’t hold a lot of significance for Sri Lanka as compared to Australia because the former is not part of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, while Australia would be looking to test their bench strength as four of their provisional squad members are ruled out of the Champions Trophy.

Last year, the Lankans defeated India 2-0 in the three-ODI series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on extremely spin-friendly pitches. The same kind of surface is expected to be dished out against Australia.

For that reason, pace-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe has been excluded. The hosts will have four spinners and spin-bowling all-rounders in their squad – : Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay – while the pacers are Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga and Mohamed Shiraz.

Captain Charith Asalanka is a proper all-rounder on the spinning Colombo surface.

SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka squad for ODIs against Australia

Charith Asalanka (C), Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga, Mohamed Shiraz, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage

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