Although the Sri Lankan big players have refused to go to the Pakistan tour (Sri Lanka vs Pakistan), it has not made any difference to the series. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced its ODI and T20 team for this series. In the absence of big players, he has made Lahiru Thirimanne and Dasun Shanaka (OD ) and T20 captains respectively.
Regular captains Dimuth Karunaratne, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera, Akila Dhananjay, Dhananjay DeSilva, Kusal Perera and Niroshan Dickwela separated themselves from the tour.
In this series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka (Pakistan vs Sri Lanka), three ODIs and as many T20 matches will be played. The series starts on 27 September. First three ODIs will be played in Karachi. Then there will be a three-match T20 series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. One-day matches will be played on September 27, September 29 and October 2. T20 matches will be held on October 5, 7 and 9.
After this, Sri Lanka will also host Pakistan for the two-match World Test Championship in December.
The Sri Lankan Cricket Board announced its team on Wednesday after the senior players decided not to visit Pakistan. Due to the absence of senior players, some young players have got a chance. For example, 24-year-old Minod Banuka has also been included in the team. Apart from this, Danushka Gunatilaka and left-arm spinner Rohit Sandakan, who has been out of the ODI series against Bangladesh, have also been selected in the ODI and T20 team for this tour.
ODI TEAM: Lahiru Thirimanne (captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara
T20 TEAM: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara.