Dhananjaya appointed Test captain replacing Dimuth

Colombo, Jan. 3 (Daily Mirror) - Dhananjaya de Silva has been appointed as the captain of the Sri Lanka Test team replacing Dimuth Karunaratne.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Selection Committee Upul Tharanga said Kusal Mendis has been appointed as the vice-captain of the Test team and Dananjaya and Kusal will act as the captain and vice-captain of the two teams in the Test match against Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, he announced 17 members Sri Lanka ODI squad for the upcoming ODI series Zimbabwe. Kusal Mendis will lead the ODI squad, with Charith Asalanka as the vice-captain.

The preliminarysquad was recently named with 21 players.

However, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Asitha Fernando and Chamika Gunasekara who were in that squad were not named for the final squad.

1. Kusal Mendis – Captain
2. Charith Asalanka – Vice Captain
3. Pathum Nissanka
4. Avishka Fernando
5. Sadeera Samarawickrama
6. Sahan Arachchige
7. Nuwanidu Fernando
8. Dasun Shanaka
9. Janith Liyanage
10. Wanindu Hasaranga
11. Maheesh Theekshana
12. Dilshan Madushanka
13. Dushmantha Chameera
14. Dunith Wellalage
15. Pramod Madushan
16. Akila Dananjaya
17. Jeffrey Vandersay

Tharanga said Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the T20 squad, with Charith Asalanka as the vice-captain.

“We hope to go with Kusal Mendis as the ODI Captain until the ODI World Cup in 2027 and Wanindu Hasaranga as T20I Captain beyond the 2024 T20 World Cup”, Tharanga said addressing the media for the first time after being appointed recently. 

Dilruwan Perera, Indika De Seram, Ajanath Mendis and Tharanga Patharanwithana were also presented at the press conference.