COLOMBO: Ahead of their upcoming series against Zimbabwe next month, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Wanindu Hasaranga as the captain of their Twenty20 side, while Kusal Mendis will take charge of the one-day international (ODI) team.
The announcement was made on Saturday, with Charith Asalanka named as the deputy to both Hasaranga and Mendis, as stated in an official release by SLC.
Hasaranga, an accomplished all-rounder, is set to make a comeback after missing the Asia Cup and the 50-overs ICC World Cup earlier this year due to an injury sustained during the Lanka Premier League in August. He takes over the T20 captaincy from Dasun Shanaka, who has been included in the preliminary squads for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe, featuring three ODIs and as many T20 matches starting on January 6.
Kusal Mendis Appointed ODI Captain
On the ODI front, Kusal Mendis, a proficient batsman, will lead the team. Mendis took over the captaincy during the World Cup in India after Dasun Shanaka was sidelined due to a thigh injury. Sri Lanka had a challenging tournament, finishing ninth out of 10 teams with two wins from nine games.
Following the disappointing World Cup campaign, SLC responded with structural changes, appointing a new selection committee led by former opener Upul Tharanga, including former player Ajantha Mendis. Additionally, former captain and cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as a ‘cricket consultant’ on a year-long deal, signaling a renewed focus on strategic leadership within the Sri Lankan cricketing setup.
