Nipun Dananjaya, Dhananjaya Lakshan to lead Emerging Team on tour of UK

Former Under 19 captain Nipun Dananjaya will lead Sri Lanka’s Emerging Team for the four-day games on its tour of the United Kingdom next month, while all-rounder Dhanajaya Lakshan will skipper the T20 team. 
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced an 18-member squad for the tour, which will comprise three four-day games and as many T20 matches. 

The 21-year-old Dananjaya is still relatively new to the domestic game, having played just eight first class matches, but four of those outings came in the recent National Super League Four-Day tournament, during which he chalked up 277 runs at an average of 46.16.  

Lakshan was a standout talent for the Galle Gladiators during the first Lanka Premier League season in 2020, but has struggled to break into the national team, playing just one ODI. 

The only other player to feature in international cricket among those in the 18-member squad is Ashen Bandara. 
Also in the squad is 19-year-old Dunith Wellalage, who came to prominence in the lead up and during the Under 19 World Cup earlier this year. 

The team will be coached by Ruwan Kalpage, with the assistance of Ruvin Peiris (Assistant Coach), Dharshana Gamage (Bowling Coach) and Dhammika Sudarshana (Batting Coach). 

The coaches were appointed following a revamp of the coaching structure, while included the appointment of former Netherlands coach Anton Roux as national fielding coach. 

The South African had a short-spanned career as a first class cricketer, lasting just four matches, before turning his focus to coaching. 

His tenure was effective March 7, and he will be in charge of fielding across all national teams and the High Performance Centre. 

Before joining the Sri Lanka backroom staff, Roux was the Assistant (fielding) Coach of Nottinghamshire, though his most notable success came with the Netherlands national team, coaching them through two T20 World Cups, and overseeing their rise to 11 in the ICC T20 rankings.  Avishka Gunawardene will serve as the Head Coach of the “A” team, along with Thilina Kandamby (Assistant Coach), Malinda Warnapura (Batting Coach), SajeewaWeerakoon (Bowling Coach) and Upul Chandana (Fielding Coach). 

Meanwhile, Jehan Mubarak will overlook the Under 19 team, with Sampath Perera (Assistant / Batting Coach), Chamila Gamage (Bowling Coach) and Gayan Wijekoon (Fielding Coach) making up the rest of the youth coaching staff.  

Emerging squad: Lasith Croospulle, Nishan Madushka, Nipun Dananjaya – Captain (Four-Day Games), Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Avishka Tharindu, Avishka Perera, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan – Captain (T20s), Santhush Gunathilake, Yasiru Rodrigo, Amshi De Silva, Nipun Malinga, Udith Madushan, Nipun Ransika, Dilum Sudeera, Ashian Daniel, Manelker De Silva