By Amindha de Alwis

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday  confirmed the 15-man squad who will represent the island in next month’s T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman. 

The team will be led by all-rounder Dasun Shanaka with Dhananjaya De Silva serving as his deputy. 

21-year-old spinner Maheesh Theekshana who made his T20I debut on Friday has found a place in the squad along with left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama who is uncapped in the format.

There were also places for the experienced Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwan Pradeep in the 15-member squad. 

Hard hitting all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka too has secured a spot despite last having represented the country in 2019. 

The team will also be accompanied by four traveling reserves in Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Pulina Tharanga and Akila Dananjaya. 

Dananjaya has been a regular in the Sri Lankan T20I side this year but finds himself out of the main squad following an average run of form in recent times. 

Sri Lanka will have to compete in the First Round of the tournament in order to progress to the Super 12 stage owing to their position in the ICC T20I Rankings having dropped below eighth place by the cut-off date. 

Sri Lanka’s opening game will be versus Namibia on October 18 in Abu Dhabi. They will then play Ireland on October 20 followed by the Netherlands on October 22.