Chamindu Wickramasinghe Poised for ODI Debut Against West Indies
Wickramasinghe made his presence felt in the first match of the T20I series against the West Indies, but as the series progressed, he found himself sidelined in favor of Dunith Wellalage, due to the pitch conditions favoring spin.
Uncapped fast-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe is set to make his One Day International (ODI) debut after being included in Sri Lanka's 16-man squad to face the West Indies. He replaces Chamika Karunaratne, whose absence from the team highlights a shift in the selection and coaching dynamics. Additionally, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has been brought into the squad in place of off-spinner Akila Dananjaya.
Karunaratne's exclusion marks a notable decline in his standing with the current management. The last time he represented Sri Lanka was during the 2023 ODI World Cup, despite being part of various squads in the interim. His recent form has not aligned with the selectors' expectations, paving the way for Wickramasinghe, who has been impressive with the bat in the Lanka Premier League held in July.
Wickramasinghe made his presence felt in the first match of the T20I series against the West Indies, but as the series progressed, he found himself sidelined in favor of Dunith Wellalage, due to the pitch conditions favoring spin.
Upcoming ODI Series Schedule
- 1st ODI: October 20
- 2nd ODI: October 23
- 3rd ODI: October 26
All matches will take place in Pallekele.
Mohamed Shiraz, who was a last-minute addition to the squad against India as a replacement for the injured Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka, will retain his position. Madushanka is also back after missing the T20I series against the West Indies. However, Pathirana, who participated in all three T20 matches against the West Indies, will not be part of the ODI lineup. Asitha Fernando completes the pace-bowling contingent.
On the spin front, Sri Lanka boasts a formidable attack led by Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, with Vandersay and Wellalage providing further options.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Lineup
The batting order remains unchanged, with captain Charith Asalanka at the helm of a strong lineup that includes Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Nishan Madushka. This solid batting core aims to build on its previous performances as they face the West Indies.
The three-match ODI series promises to be an exciting contest as Sri Lanka seeks to solidify its position in the cricketing arena while giving new talents like Wickramasinghe an opportunity to shine on the international stage. With the matches set to take place in Pallekele, fans are eager to see how the team performs against a competitive West Indies side.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad for the Series Against West Indies
- Captain: Charith Asalanka
- Batsmen: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka
- Allrounders: Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga
- Wicketkeeper: Not specified in the provided data
- Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz
As the ODI series approaches, all eyes will be on Wickramasinghe to see how he adapts to the pressures of international cricket, as well as on the team as they seek to build momentum in their campaign against the West Indies.
