U19 WC star Dunith Wellalage called-up in Sri Lanka's squad for Australia ODIs
Jun 10, 2022
Colombo [Sri Lanka], June 10 : All-rounder Dunith Wellalage, who topped the wicket-takers chart at this year's ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup, has earned a spot in Sri Lanka's upcoming ODI series against Australia.
Wellalage took 17 wickets in six matches at 13.58 with his left-arm spin, including two five-wicket hauls against Scotland and Australia.
Not only that, he even finished the tournament as his side's top run-maker, scoring 264 runs across six innings at an average of 44 which also featured an impressive century against South Africa.
The Sri Lanka side will be led by their regular skipper Dasun Shanaka, with the five-match series against Australia starting on June 14. The first two matches will be played in Pallekele and the remaining three in Colombo.
The 21-member squad features 12 players from the team that featured in the ODIs against Zimbabwe earlier this year, which Sri Lanka won 2-1. Nuwan Thushara, who is yet to make his ODI debut, has retained his spot while uncapped Pramod Madushan has also earned a spot.
Dhananjaya de Silva, who was on paternity leave during the Zimbabwe assignment, returns to the side. Also making his comeback to the ODI setup is all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka, who last featured in a 50-over game for Sri Lanka in June 2017.
Sri Lanka have also added Wanindu Hasaranga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Niroshan Dickwella, who all last featured in ODIs in 2021.
SL ODI Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage and Pramod Madushan.
