Sri Lanka have announced a 16-member squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan. Former captain Dasun Shanaka did not have a place in the team. Also missing from the squad are Nuwanidu Fernando and Jeffrey Vandersay who were in the squad for the last Zimbabwe series.

The Lankans have included 2 players in the team except for 3 cricketers. Chamika Karunaratne and Shevon Daniel have been brought into the team. Among the 3 cricketers left out of the squad for the Zimbabwe series, Shanaka is the big name. The former captain has been struggling with form for quite some time now. As a result of continuous failure, he was left out of the squad this time.

If calculated from January 2023, Shanaka hit just one fifty in his last 21 innings in the ODI format. With a batting average of only 12.25, there is no way to tell whether Shanaka is an all-rounder or a tailender. Shanaka led Sri Lanka to play in the World Cup. When he was ruled out due to injury, vice-captain Kusal Mendis was later given the captaincy. After the World Cup, Kusal was handed the ODI captaincy ahead of the Zimbabwe series, ousting Shanaka. Wanindu Hasaranga was replaced by Shanaka as the T20 captain.

Despite losing the captaincy, Shanaka was included in the playing XI for the first two ODIs against Zimbabwe. However, after scoring 8 and 7 runs in those two matches, he was kept out of the eleven in the third match. Another pace bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne may be replaced in the Afghanistan series. Chamika played in the jersey of Sri Lanka in the last ODI World Cup. Although not a power hitter like Shanaka, the bowling is very effective.

The rest of the squad consists of familiar faces. The first match of the three-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be played tomorrow on February 9. The game will start at 3 PM Bangladesh time in Pallekele. The remaining two matches of the series will start at the same ground on February 11 and 14.

Sri Lanka squad: Kusal Mendis (c), Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sahan Arachchige, Shevon Daniel, Janith Liyanage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga.