On Wednesday, December 18, the Sri Lanka Cricket Association (SLC) announced the strong squad for the upcoming T20I tournament. series Against the New Zealand national cricket team.
Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand consists of a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series. The first two T20I matches are scheduled to be played on December 28 and 30 at Mount Maunganui, with Nelson scheduled to host the third match on January 2.
And then the two difference They will face each other in three ODI matches on January 5, 8 and 11 in Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland.
SLC announces a largely unchanged squad for the T20I series
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee (SLC) backed the players and named a squad that was largely unchanged from their home series against the New Zealanders in November. Dunith Wellalage was only dropped from the side.
Charith Asalanka will lead the team and will be supported by the likes of Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Pereira, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the batting department.
While the bowling duties will be handled by the likes of Wanendu Hasaranga, Mahesh Thekshana, Geoffrey Vandersaye, Mathisha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, We hate FernandoAnd Pinora Fernando.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan team will leave for New Zealand on Friday, December 20. Under the leadership of coach Sanath Jayasuriya, the Sri Lankan team has been flying high in international cricket and they have put in some exceptional performances. They were aiming to continue their memorable run and win the series against New Zealand in their own backyard.
Sri Lanka T20I squad for New Zealand series
Team: Charith Asalanka (centre), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Pereira, Avishka FernandoKamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanendu Hasaranga, Mahesh Thekshana, Jeffrey Vandersaye, Chamedu Wickramasinghe, Mathisha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando.
What happened in the last series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand?
In November, the Lankan Lions and Black Caps faced each other in a two-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series.
In the first T20I in Dambulla, New Zealand put 135 on the board, which Sri Lanka chased down in the 19th over to claim a four-wicket win and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The New Zealanders bounced back in game two and won the low-scoring thriller by 5 runs. New Zealand scored 108 runs on the board and then restricted the hosts to 103 runs.
As the event moved to the ODI series, the home team began its dominance. Sri Lanka won the first match by 45 runs (as per DLS method) after scoring 324/5 and restricting the New Zealanders to 175/9.
Then in the second match, New Zealand scored 209, which they could not defend and allowed the hosts to win by three wickets. The third match ended in a no-contest due to rain, and hence the home team won the ODI series 2-0.