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Restructuring the Sri Lanka ODI team for 2023 ODI World Cup

If Sri Lanka have the aim of winning the 2023 cricket world cup they need to restructure their ODI team starting from the next ODI series against Bangladesh in May. Sri Lanka have 21 ODIs from now on to the next ODI world cup. Selectors should not mix up the test players with the limited overs players. First of all they need to drop Dimuth Karunarathna from the ODI team and give the captaincy to some one else who can take the team for the 2023 World up. Players like Dinesh Chandimal, Oshadha Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne also must only concentrate only on the test format.

Selectors must identify a squad that can win the world cup for you in 2 years time and give enough experience to this squad members from now on. We must inject new young blood to this squad and possible candidates for the captaincy should be Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and Kusal Janith Perera.

Give the enough experience to this squad members and we must never revert back to tried and tested players like Dimuth Karunarathna, Dinesh Chandimal, Anjelo Perera, Milinda Siriwardena, Ashan Priyanajan, Chaturanga De Silva, Thisara Perera again in this ODI format.

Possible squad with new young blood that can win the world cup for you in 2 years time.

Playing XI

  1. Dhanushka Gunathilaka
  2. Avishka Fernando
  3. Kusal Janith Perera – WK
  4. Kusal Mendis – Captain
  5. Jehan Daniel
  6. Dasun Shanaka
  7. Dhananjaya De Silva
  8. Wanindu Hasaranga
  9. Dhananjaya Lakshan
  10. Dushmantha Chameera
  11. Lahiru Kumara

Other Squad Members

  1. Pathum Nissanka
  2. Charith Asalanka
  3. Niroshan Dickwella – WK
  4. Lakshan Sadakan
  5. Anjelo Mathews
  6. Kasun Rajitha
  7. Suranga Lakmal
  8. Nuwan Pradeep
  9. Dilshan Madushanka
  10. Kalana Perera
  11. Kamindu Mendis
  12. Maheesh Theekshana
  13. Dunith Wellalage
  14. Akila Dhananjaya
  15. Kavindu Nadeeshan
  16. Asitha Fernando
  17. Ashen Bandara

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

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6 Comments

  1. I also think it is better to remove Dimuth from ODI side and give Dasun the ODI captaincy. Need to plan now for the World Cup and hope they pick the same opening batting combo all the way until WC 2023 without changing.

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  2. Yes, Dias. Selectors first must identify the basic of team selection. You must play your best XI and from that XI you must choose your captain. It is not the other way around. I do not think Dimuth will be able to get into even the first 30 of the ODI squad. There is no different capability to him either. He neither a all-rounder, neither a power hitter and even he cannot consistently score runs with his low trike rate.

    It is a crime / waste if we have to left X factor young player like Avishka Fernando from the playing XI in order to accommodate a player like Dimuth in the playing XI.

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  3. Totally agree. Sri Lanka needs to move on from the tried and tested seniors. If you’re going to continue losing, at least give the youth a chance. At the moment, they are neither rebuilding nor progressing. I liked Dasun Shanaka’s captaincy in the T20Is he has captained to date.

    My ODI Team for England (next series in England) and leading up to the World Cup:
    1. Dhanushka Gunathilaka
    2. Avishka Fernando
    3. Pathum Nissanka
    4. Kusal Perera (wk)
    5. Ashen Bandara
    6. Dasun Shanaka (c)
    7. Wanindu Hasaranga
    8. Dhananjaya Lakshan
    9. Dushmantha Chameera
    10. Maheesh Theekshana
    11. Nuwan Pradeep

    Reserves/ Players to think about:
    Batsmen
    Niroshan Dickwella
    Angelo Mathews
    Dhananjaya de Silva
    Sandun Weerakkody
    Charith Asalanka

    Spin Bowlers
    Nishan Peiris
    Akila Dananjaya
    Maheesh Theekshana
    Amila Aponso
    Lakshan Sandakan

    Pace bowlers
    Lahiru Kumara
    Asitha Fernando
    Dilshan Madushanka
    Kalana Perera

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