Shanaka to lead SL in T20I tri-series after Asalanka's illness

Sri Lanka have announced a series of late squad changes ahead of the T20I tri-series in Pakistan, with captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando both returning home due to illness.

The duo, who were part of the recently concluded ODI series, will miss the three-nation tournament featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Zimbabwe after the team management and medical staff advised a precautionary withdrawal to allow them proper treatment and recovery time ahead of future commitments. In Asalanka's absence, former white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka has been asked to take charge of the side for the tri-series.

Sri Lanka have also named Pavan Rathnayake as a replacement in the T20I squad while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has been included too. The selectors roped in Viyaskanth with Wanindu Hasaranga still recovering from the hamstring tightness he suffered during the ODI leg of the tour. Viyaskanth will join the squad directly in Pakistan, travelling from Qatar where he was representing Sri Lanka A in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.

Sri Lanka will open their tri-series campaign against Zimbabwe on November 20 in Rawalpindi. Earlier, SLC had instructed its players to continue the matches in Pakistan after some members of the touring party expressed safety concerns following a suicide bombing in Islamabad.

The board said it had engaged with the PCB and local authorities and assured the players that adequate security arrangements were in place before directing the team to proceed with the scheduled fixtures. There was, however, a change to the original schedule. The second and third ODIs were moved to November 14 and 16, from the original dates of 13th and 15th. The tri-series, which was to start on November 17, was moved to 18th.