Sri Lanka will be without veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews in the battle for a place in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. There are surprises in the 15-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers starting in Zimbabwe this month.

Mathews returned to the ODI team after 2 years in the New Zealand tour this year. However, the 36-year-old cricketer has been again dropped from the team. He was also dropped from the XI for the Afghanistan series due to poor form.

Dimuth Karunaratne has retained his place in the team. There is Sadeera Samarawickrama too, who will try to make up for Mathews' absence. Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga are among the all-rounders. Maheesh Theekshana and Dushan Hemantha are in the spin department along with Hasaranga.

Hemantha just made his debut in the recently concluded Afghan series. Young pacer Matheesha Pathirana has also got a chance. Keeping these two in the World Cup selection can be said to be a surprise.

It should be noted that Sri Lanka's World Cup qualifying mission will begin with a match against the United Arab Emirates on June 19.

Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana.