The Sri Lankan cricket team left for New Zealand last night (20th) to participate in a three-match T20I and ODI tournament.
Speaking to the media before leaving the island, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asanka mentioned the decision to drop young spinner Dunith Wellalage from the team, citing the need for an extra fast bowler to adapt to New Zealand’s pitching conditions.
Explaining the rationale behind the selection, Asanka said, “Dunithu was dropped because we wanted to include an extra fast bowler for the New Zealand conditions. It was a very tough decision for me, the selection committee and the coach. Sometimes when you play on pitches like New Zealand, you have to make those kinds of calls.
Asanka also commented on the team’s preparation and morale ahead of the challenging tour. “The players are in a good spirits. Their performance in the recent T10 tournament was commendable, with players contributing through runs and wickets. This has been good preparation for the team,” he said.
“New Zealand are a strong team, especially at home. They haven’t made many big changes to their squad and that will be an added challenge. However, we are confident that our experienced players will help guide the newcomers and strengthen the team,” he added.
The T20 tour consisting of three matches is scheduled to be held on December 28 and 30, 2024 and the final match is scheduled to be held on January 2, 2025.
