Ashan Priyanjan, who made his ODI debut in 2013 for the national side, has been named Sri Lanka A team captain for the 50-over and test match series against touring Bangladesh side.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh A team’s will play two 4-day games and three ODI matches, starting from September 23.
Priyanjan, who has so far played 23 ODIs for Sri Lanka with a mediocre average of 23.3, has largely been named captain of both the squads largely due to his high level connections at Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC). A middle order batsman, Priyanjan plays first class cricket for Colombo Cricket Club (CCC), which belongs to current SLC President Shammi Silva. That’s the sole reason, he has been permanently named captain of all the A team squads, despite mediocre performances at every level.
That’s the reason, Asantha De Mel led selection committee has shamelessly picked him not only for ODIs, but for four-day matches Also, despite Priyanjan’s below per first class average of 36.2.
Except for Priyanjan, however, the selectors have picked all other deserving players, who are making big strides in domestic cricket.
Ramesh Mendis, a dashing middle-order batsman, who shone big time for Sri Lanka Emerging Team against Bangladesh recently, has been included in both the squads, as well as domestic run-machine Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera and Ashen Bandara.
National discarded Jeffrey Vandersay, Vishwa Fernando and Malinda Pushpkumara have also been picked for different squads. Chamika Karunaratne, a dashing fast bowler allrounder who could not compete for the national team place with CCC allrounder Lahiru Madushanka for the recently concluded New Zealand T20I series, has also found a place finally!
Gunaratne, Sri Lanka international who played some memorable knocks for national team in last few years but lost his place due to injuries and poor form, has been picked for ODI side, while young middle order batsman Shammu Ashan has also been named in the squad.
ODI Squad:
Ashan Priyanjan
Pathum Nissanka
Sandun Weerakody
Lahiru Udara
Kamindu Mendis
Priyamal Perera
Ashen Bandara
Ramesh Mendis
Amila Aponso
Jeffrey Vandersay
Vishwa Fernando
Chamika Karunaratne
Asitha Fernando
Ishan Jayarathne
Shiran Fernando
Shammu Ashan
Asela Gunaratne
Test Squad:
Ashan Priyanjan
Pathum Nissanka
Sangeeth Cooray
Lahiru Udara
Kamindu Mendis
Priyamal Perera
Ashen Bandara
Manoj Sarathchandra
Charith Asalanka
Ramesh Mendis
Nishan Peiris
Malinda Pushpkumara
Prabhath Jayasuriya
Vishwa Fernando
Chamika Karunaratne
Asitha Fernando
Mohammed Shiraz
Shiran Fernando
Jeffrey Vandersay
