Sri Lanka tour of India 2017

[Abdullah719]

Virat Kohli seeks break vs Sri Lanka citing ‘personal reasons’

Citing ‘personal reasons’, India captain Virat Kohli has asked for a break that will see him miss the December leg of the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. In case he gets the go-ahead, India will end up playing one Test plus the entire ODI and T20I series without Kohli.

Starting with the longer format, India are scheduled to play three Tests, three ODIs and three T20s against Sri Lanka from November 16 to December 24. “Kohli has informed the BCCI that there are some personal reasons and that is why he won’t be available in the month of December. Kohli has been playing non-stop cricket for quite sometimes now and he certainly would like to be fresh for South Africa tour in January,” a source in the board informed.

The senior selection committee will meet in Mumbai on Monday to pick teams for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, Board President’s XI against Sri Lanka (warm-up tie) and three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The last time Kohli missed a Test match was in Dharamsala against Australia earlier this year. He had injured his shoulder, which resulted in Ajinkya Rahane leading the team.

Sri Lanka will be playing its lone warm-up game on November 11 in Kolkata with first Test to be played in Nagpur from November 16-20. On eve of their first ODI game against New Zealand, Kohli was asked how he will deal with hectic schedule.

Kohli said both the batsmen and bowlers would have to be rotated in order to ensure that they don’t burn out with overseas tours, including those to South Africa and England lined-up for next year. “Yes, we have spoken about the schedule, it’s become quite hectic. That’s something we will definitely have to sit and discuss in future. Because, if you look at New Zealand, they haven’t played any cricket after Champions Trophy. There has been such a good lay off. It can be the difference in doing well in a big tournament and performing poorly,” Kohli said.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...virat-kohli-seeks-break-vs-sri-lanka-4901909/

 

[Abdullah719]

India v Sri Lanka: Murali Vijay returns for Sri Lanka Tests

NEW DELHI: Murali Vijay has been recalled to India's squad for the first two Test matches against Sri Lanka, having recovered from the wrist injury that sent him home from Sri Lanka two months ago. He is the only change to India's previous Test squad, with his Tamil Nadu captain and opening partner Abhinav Mukund making way.

R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav remain the preferred spinners, while the pace quotient continues to be Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma with allrounder Hardik Pandya the fifth option. Wriddhiman Saha is, as expected, the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman. Ajinkya Rahane has been made vice-captain for the series.

Vijay last played a Test in March, having missed all three Tests in Sri Lanka with an injured right wrist.

Since then, his competitive cricket has been restricted to one Ranji Trophy match for Tamil Nadu, one for India Green in the Duleep Trophy and four Twenty20 games in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. Vijay made 17 runs in two innings during the Duleep Trophy game, in which he also took five wickets, and for Tamil Nadu he made 4 and 55 earlier this month.

Like Vijay, there are a few other members of India's Test squad who have not played International cricket since the tour of Sri Lanka. Cheteshwar Pujara turned out for Nottinghamshire in England, with disappointing returns of 333 runs in 12 innings, and since then has managed 35 and 13 for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Saha has featured in just two Ranji matches for Bengal, with scores of 55, 15 and 27 and six catches.

Ashwin too has only played first-class cricket since August, having been overlooked for India's ODI squad. He enjoyed a successful but brief county stint in England for Division Two toppers Worcestershire, taking 20 wickets and scoring 214 runs in four games. For Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, he has made two appearances this month from which he has seven wickets. Ashwin's spin partner Jadeja has also not gotten a chance for India in limited-overs cricket since the Sri Lanka tour, and has played just one match since then. Turning out for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy last week, Jadeja hit 201 and claimed seven wickets in a match-winning performance.

The Sri Lanka series starts November 16 at Eden Gardens, followed by Tests in Nagpur from November 24 and Delhi from December 2. Sri Lanka will also play three ODIs and three T20Is during the tour that spans 37 days.

India Test squad : Virat Kohli (capt), Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Murali Vijay, Hardik Pandya.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-for-sri-lanka-tests/articleshow/61181137.cms

 

[7sins]

First of all after clean sweeping lankans in their home why they needed to play them again. Its a no match and for such a week sri lanka side they could have experimented with team but they didnt.

 

[darksher]

India has by far the most busy schedule among test playing nations. One series lined up after another in a quick succession. No wonder Kohli is taking a break and for the better. His absence won't make much of a difference when India takes on SL, the later is heading for yet another clean sweep across all formats with or without the services of Kohli. SL should seriously consider taking a break from International Cricket given their atrocious form in 2017, otherwise more embarrassing whitewashes will follow.

 

[troodon]

One more fattu series that India is going to play.

Playing a school level Srilanka at home and then flying to South Africa and facing them can be a nightmarish thing.

 

[troodon]

I read that the break that Kohli has asked for could be because of his marriage. He and Anushka Sharma might get married in December.

 

[rashmin]

Shows something else as well, could easily make few hundreds in that series, rather preferred to take a break, hope some PP fans understand this.

 

[CricFan2012]

I read that the break that Kohli has asked for could be because of his marriage. He and Anushka Sharma might get married in December.

Highly likely, and it might end up ending be a royal patch for Kohli after, cricketers usually perform really well after marriages, might average in the 100s

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Zzzzzzz would rather see a India vs India A type thing. Would be more beneficial for Indian cricket too.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka Name 15-man Squad for India Tests; Mendis, Silva Dropped

Colombo: Sri Lanka on Sunday dropped the out-of-form top order batsmen Kusal Mendis and Kaushal Silva from the squad for a three-match Test series against India starting in Kolkata from November 16.

The board brought back all-rounders Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva to the squad led by Dinesh Chandimal.

Former skipper and all-rounder Angelo Mathews has recovered from a recurring calf injury and was included in the squad.

During Sri Lanka's home series against India, the hosts lost all nine games -- three Tests, five one-day internationals and a lone Twenty20 -- between July and September.

After playing the first Test in Kolkata from November 16-20, the teams move to Nagpur for the second, which starts on November 24. The final Test will be played in Delhi between December 2-6.

Squad:

Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella and Roshen Silva.

http://www.news18.com/cricketnext/n...india-tests-mendis-silva-dropped-1567809.html

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Seems like Lanka will break Bangla's record this year.

 

[Hitman]

I doubt whether I'll bother checking even the scorecard. A series against Afganistan would be far more interesting.

 

[lehen]

What if Sri Lanka whitewshes India like they did Pakistan , never write anyone off, Indian batting is in dire straits

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I think the main team for the SA tests should not play a single ODI or T20. In fact, we should focus on winning the first two tests and then playing a completely different team for the final test, ODIs and T20's. That should give them some rest for the SA tour.

 

[Ab Fan]

Good decision. He has been playing unlimited cricket from a long time.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

SL clean swept pak in UAE do without Kohli it will be even Stevens.

Odi n t20 will be in our favour but we won't sweep them for sure.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

I doubt whether I'll bother checking even the scorecard. A series against Afganistan would be far more interesting.

Heights of over confidence. On a turner, batting last can be deadly against hearth, dhananjaya, perera n sandakan

 

[Bilal7]

Hats off to Kohli for taking this break. He is leaving behind at least three centuries.

 

[Hitman]

Heights of over confidence. On a turner, batting last can be deadly against hearth, dhananjaya, perera n sandakan

It's not about winning or losing. It's just plain bland and boring.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Can't wait to watch India vs SL AGAIN! Said none.

 

[Smbhayi]

bad decision to drop Kushal Mendis :/

 

[giri26]

Horrible series. Not required at the moment. India just had a series against them away, there was not need for this series at home. India would have been better off preparing for the SA series instead of playing this one at home. I doubt the result will be any different, even though I don't expect a whitewash. Ashwin will get to 300 wickets though in this series.

 

[Buffet]

SL just whitewashed Pakistan. They may surprise PPers by competing.

 

[CricFan2012]

SL just whitewashed Pakistan. They may surprise PPers by competing.

No.

Pakistan could have avoided it by playing an off spinner, Lanka will be facing two of the best off spinners in world cricket at the moment.

India is a more ruthless team as well at home.

 

[giri26]

SL just whitewashed Pakistan. They may surprise PPers by competing.

I doubt that will happen. They might get away with a draw but beating India in India is very tough and SL don't have the ammunition to challenge India at the moment.

 

[Rayyman]

I doubt whether I'll bother checking even the scorecard. A series against Afganistan would be far more interesting.

I think the main team for the SA tests should not play a single ODI or T20. In fact, we should focus on winning the first two tests and then playing a completely different team for the final test, ODIs and T20's. That should give them some rest for the SA tour.

Oh no Kohli resting!

I was hoping for India to break 444 record.

 

[Hermoine Green]

Best time for India to give more chances to new players.

 

[Ahson8]

Let’s see if Chandmimal’s witchcraft works on the Indians

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Oh no Kohli resting!

I was hoping for India to break 444 record.

That's a meaningless record. Our priority should be to play the best we can and bully SA in SA

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lankan cricket team arrive in Kolkata

Kolkata, Nov 8 (PTI) Dinesh Chandimal-led Sri Lankan squad today arrived for their six-week tour of India, which starts here with the first of the three-Test series, beginning on November 16.

Sri Lanka will play three Tests, three ODIs and three T20 Internationals against Virat Kohlis India.

The 15-member squad will hit the nets from tomorrow ahead of their two-day practice game against a third-string Board Presidents XI at the JU (2nd Campus ground), starting November 11.

"They will take rest today and hit the nets tomorrow afternoon," the local manager added.

The last time Sri Lanka played Test matches in India was seven years back in 2009, a three-match series that they lost 0-2. Earlier this year, India beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in Tests followed by clean sweep in ODIs and lone T20 International.

However the islanders had a better show against Pakistan winning away Test series in UAE 2-0.

But in the ODI series that followed they were routed 0-5 by Pakistan.

Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Thirimanne (vice- captain), Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Dasun Shanaka and Roshen Silva

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sri-lankan-cricket-team-arrive-in-kolkata/1/1084892.html

 

[Abdullah719]

Hardik Pandya rested for Test series against Sri Lanka due to ‘heavy workload’

Hardik Pandya has been rested for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The BCCI said in a release that the decision was “made to made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern.” “Considering Mr Pandya’s heavy recent workload, the decision was made to negate any possibility of a major injury concern. Mr Pandya will undergo a period of strength at conditioning at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru,” read the statement.

Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Murali Vijay make their returns to the Indian international setup. The BCCI further stated that the All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Sanju Samson as captain of the Board President’s XI for the warm-up match against Sri Lanka after Naman Ojha was ruled out due to injury.

Shikhar Dhawan, who announced his Test comeback in Sri Lanka with two centuries, the first of which was 190 off 168 balls, has also been named in the squad alongwith Murali Vijay and KL Rahul. Rohit Sharma, who has not been able to replicate his limited overs success in the longest format of the game is also in the squad while Murali Vijay makes his return from injury.

India had trounced Sri Lanka 4-0 in the Test series that the two sides played in the latter’s home in July and August. Since then though, Sri Lanka managed a shock 2-0 series win over Pakistan in the UAE. They are the first side to have beaten Pakistan in the UAE since the latter shifted their home base there in 2009. They were subsequently beaten by Pakistan in the limited overs series, losing all the ODI and T20I matches.

India squad for first two Tests: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma.

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...t-sri-lanka-no-replacement-announced-4931319/

 

[SLCric]

SL batsmen make strong start to India tour

Sri Lankans 411 for 6 (Samarawickrama 74, Dickwella 73*, Mathews 54, Karunaratne 50) v Indian Board President's XI

 

[Varun]

Overkill of India-Sri Lanka series: Virat Kohli wants fans to take a call

‘We have to maintain a balance of how to engage fans and keep players fresh at the same time and keep cricket exciting’

India captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday left it to the fans to decide if there has been an overkill of India- Sri Lanka cricket contests in recent years, something that had led to dwindling interest in a cricket- crazy nation.

India played an away Test series against Sri Lanka in 2015 followed by a short limited-overs series at home in 2016 and in the current year are playing them in full series across formats on home-and-away basis.

Not to forget, India will again travel to Sri Lanka in 2018 to play the Independence Cup T20 tournament.

When Kohli was asked whether the India vs Sri Lanka battle is losing its sheen, he gave a subtle reply.

“It definitely has to be taken into consideration because you don’t want fans going away from the game. We have to maintain a balance of how to engage fans and keep players fresh at the same time and keep cricket exciting and keep it competitive throughout the year. That point will be discussed in future definitely,” Kohli dropped enough hints as to what he felt on the issue during the pre-match conference.

The Indian captain feels that fans are one of the biggest stakeholders in the game and they need to be taken into confidence.

“This needs analysis. It has to be done over a period of time by asking the fans who watch the game. For someone watching the game, it is very different than someone involved playing in the game.

“For us, there’s no room for saying that ‘I don’t want to play this game, or you cannot say I don’t feel like batting while standing on the crease’. There is no room for that because you will get out and the team will lose. We are at our absolute top intensity all the time.”

Kohli made it clear that as cricketers they can only play an opposition that faces them but fans do have a choice to watch what they want to.

“It will be better answered by the fans who watch the game if there’s too much cricket being played or repetition of same series. For us it’s about playing cricket for the country and we will do what we are presented with every time a new series comes up.”

‘We want to be uncomfortable’

The immediate assignment may be against Sri Lanka but Kohli has already set his sights on the “difficult” tour of South Africa, where he is looking forward to embracing the “uncomfortable”.

“If you can embrace playing in difficult conditions that will be the difference. We want to be uncomfortable, we want to embrace being uncomfortable and that’s the most important thing.”

“We want to build our games in such a way that we want to look forward to playing anywhere in the world. We just want to play good cricket, that’s about it. We don’t want to wait for conditions to suit our games,” the skipper said with an obvious reference to the South African tour in January.

Indian team has been on a roll for sometime now with most of the Test matches happening at home.

“Right now, we have gone through a good phase where a lot of cricket has been played at home. We certainly believe a lot in ourselves as a team.”

However the captain rightly pointed out that a good team needs to win everywhere in the world to be considered as a top-notch outfit. The South Africa series starts January 5, with the first Test at Cape Town.

“We want to rather develop our games for difficult conditions. If you want to be the top side in the world for a longer period of time you have to win everywhere. If we had played all this cricket away as well we would have maintained the same intensity and have the same mindset,” Kohli said.

While Sri Lanka are not the best international opponent at the moment, Kohli made it clear that there is no dearth of respect for the rivals.

“We feel every match we play is important. Every series is huge. It not like if we lose the series and you guys are going to say nothing to us.

“Winning is the most important thing. For that everyone is on the same page whether we play in India or abroad, regardless of the opposition. We want to maintain our consistency as a team and that has worked for us,” he said.

The skipper dropped enough hints that the in-form Shikhar Dhawan and K.L Rahul will retain their opening slots.

“Three openers is a situation that has always been a thing. The balance has swung every now and then with one of them missing out. Now that Shikhar and KL playing well it’s very difficult to pick two out of three when all of them are so good, and they have done so well.”

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/crick...wants-fans-to-take-a-call/article20460282.ece

Well said by Kohli. It's about time we do our bit by not following such series closely, not turning up to the stadium, etc.

 

[MenInG]

https://www.supersport.com/cricket/.../news/171121/Kumar_Dhawan_opt_out_of_2nd_test

Fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar and opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan Monday pulled out of India's test team for the second match against Sri Lanka due to personal reasons, the country's cricket board said.

Kumar, who starred with a match haul of eight wickets in the drawn first test in Kolkata, will miss the next two tests while Dhawan is only available for the final game in Delhi.

"The BCCI would like to inform that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan have been released from India's test team," The Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a release.

"The duo made a request to the selectors and the team management to release them owing to personal reasons," it added, without elaborating further.

According to reports in the Indian media, Kumar has taken a break to get married to his fiancee, Nupur Nagar, later this month.

Uncapped seam bowling allrounder Vijay Shankar has been added to the 14-man squad.

The second test in Nagpur is scheduled to start Friday.

India test squad for the second test: Virat Kohli (Captain), Lokesh Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Vijay Shankar.

https://www.supersport.com/cricket/.../news/171121/Kumar_Dhawan_opt_out_of_2nd_test

 

[Abdullah719]

India vs Sri Lanka: Virat Kohli rested for Sri Lanka ODIs, Rohit Sharma to lead 15-man squad

Virat Kohli was rested for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka and Rohit Sharma was named captain of the squad that will face the visitors from December 10. Batsman Shreyas Iyer included in the ODI squad for the first time and pacer Sidharth Kaul was also named in the 15-man squad.

Kohli has been saying that he has played too much cricket and cricketers need rested from the packed international calendar. India will tour South Africa three days after the Sri Lanka T20I series which ends on December 24.

However, Kohli will play the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in New Delhi from December 2. The selectors retained the same squad for the final Test from the second Test and also included Shikhar Dhawan who had asked for a break from the second Test. Bhuvneshwar, however, will join only after the Test series.

The Indian selectors did not recall R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for the ODI series and went ahead with the selection of two wrist spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav alongwith left-spinner Axar Patel. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who had asked to be rested from the Test series against Sri Lanka, was back in the ODI squad which otherwise a familiar look to it.

Iyer was included in the India squad for T20Is against New Zealand and he made his debut in New Delhi. But he not been part of the ODI squad. Kaul, the Punjab pacer, was picked for the first time in any India squad.

ODI squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sidharth Kaul

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...is-rohit-sharma-to-lead-15-man-squad-4956988/

 

[Abdullah719]

India vs Sri Lanka 2017: Rangana Herath complains of back pain; Jeffrey Vandersay called in as cover

Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has been called in as cover for the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. Rangana Herath, who bowled 39 overs in the Nagpur Test, complained of a back pain after the match.

Given the track at Kolkata had grass throughout the Test, the spinners had very little role to play. Herath bowled a mere 8 overs (the least in a Test in his career) as Suranga Lakmal caused most damage. However, Herath scored a fighting fifty in seaming conditions to help Sri Lanka take a lead.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 with one match still to go. With the veteran Herath out, Sri Lanka will weaken further, especially given the fact that Dilruwan Perera conceded over 200 runs at Nagpur.

After losing 0-3 to India at home, Sri Lanka became the first team to beat Pakistan in UAE. All the same, the fallible Sri Lankans are back to displaying an ordinary show. Barring their performance on the opening day of the series, Sri Lanka could not dominate India. They will hope Herath is in the best of his fitness before the last match.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...n-jeffrey-vandersay-called-in-as-cover-663873

 

[Abdullah719]

Thisara Perera to be appointed ODI & T20 captain

Sri Lanka Cricket has made plans to appoint Thisara Perera as captain for the three-match one day international and twenty20 series against India after the final test at Delhi on Saturday.

Perera will replace top order batsman Upul Tharanga who suffered a humiliating loss against Pakistan in the UAE.

Despite losing the Twenty20 series in the UAE and Lahore, Perera was given credit for his brave approach and fighting instincts, leading a young side over no.1 ranked Pakistan.

http://dailysports.lk/thisara-perera-appointed-odi-t20-captain/

 

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka‘s opener Sadeera Samarawickrama has been out of action of the final Test against India after being struck in the helmet while fielding at forward short leg on Day One. He has not taken the field since then, and will be given green signal after being tested by a neurologist. Interestingly, Samarawickrama was hit for the second time in a row by Murali Vijay. Earlier he took a blow at Nagpur, and again came in centurion Vijay’ line when the batsman attempted a sweep shot at Feroz Shah Kotla on Saturday.

Says Sri Lanka’s team manager

“We will do a first test tonight (Sunday) with him in the gym. If he comes okay from that and the medical staff is happy, he’ll have a hit tomorrow morning. Then the doctors will look at him and if things go right, he will get the green light to play.

He is feeling fine. It’s because of a concussion, we just have to be careful after what happened to Phil Hughes. There are some guidelines that we have got to follow. We are working with a neurologist because the team doctors from Sri Lanka told us to only deal with the neurologist and to get the green light from him.

We had a neurologist in the changing room this afternoon. He worked with Sadeera and he gave us the green light so that Sadeera could start running. What we are looking at is, if he starts running and if he gets a headache and feels vomitish, we have to stop him immediately. He says he is fine and actually wanted to open the batting. But we are taking all the precautions.”

Cricket has learned its lessons the hard way

Umpires have become extra cautious in relation to any injury in the head or neck. It is an aftermath of what happened back in November 2014 when Australia’s young talent, Phil Hughes, lost his life after being hit in the head during a Sheffield Shield encounter in Australia.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...ickrama-to-undergo-test-by-neurologist-665699

 

[MenInG]

https://thefield.scroll.in/860340/d...nesh-chandimal-dropped-for-odis-against-india

Sri Lanka on Tuesday left out Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal from the one-day squad to face India on the day he completed a crucial century to help his side save face in the third Test. All-rounder Asela Gunaratne and opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka return to the side that has lost 21 one-day games this year and won just four.

Chandimal, who was last man out for 164 in Sri Lanka’s first innings in New Delhi on Tuesday, is the major victim of the latest changes made to rejuvenate the national fortunes. Sri Lanka Cricket, last week, named Thisara Perera as the one-day captain in place of Upul Tharanga.

Under Tharanga, Sri Lanka suffered three consecutive One-day International whitewashes this year against South Africa, India and Pakistan. Gunaratne returns to the side for the first time since being injured in July against India in Galle. He will strengthen the batting order alongside the former skipper Angelo Mathews who returns having missed the last ODI series against Pakistan through injury.

Sri Lanka and India play one day games between December 10 and 17 in Dharmasala, Mohali and Visakhapatnam.

Squad

Thisara Perera (C), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep

 

[Abdullah719]

National cricketers embarrassed: Angry Sri Lankan Sports Minister recalls nine ODI players from BIA

In an unprecedented development, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera last night ordered all nine players heading to India for the limited-over leg of the current series to turn back as they were leaving the country without his approval. At the time of his intervention, the players had even boarded the flight to Delhi and were forced to disembark.

The team leaving the country without his approval was a blatant violation of the country’s sports law which requires Sports Minister’s approval, the Minister said.

Sri Lanka Cricket maintained that the team composition was sent for ministry approval yesterday evening, This gave the Minister less than 12 hours to sanction it.

“How can I approve a team at such short notice?” a furious Minister asked. “If you go by the Sports Law, it requires the list to be sent three weeks prior to leaving. Here, they are sending a team just three to four hours before leaving the country. So I had to recall them."

“I have nothing against the players," he said. "In fact, Thisara called me last night from the flight and said, 'Sir we have already boarded'. But I told him, 'Nothing doing'. If I allowed them to go, I am setting a precedent here."

The Sports Minister will now meet the selectors, Board officials and skipper Perera this afternoon before approving the team.

“They can go tonight but I want to ensure it doesn't happen again,” he said.

The selectors decided a squad of 15 players for the limited-over series on Friday but were to meet again on Monday to finalize the final team as there had been some disagreements over some players. Sources said the Board wanted the selectors to reconsider their decision to omit Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera from the squad. Chandimal, the highest run-getter in the current series with two 50s and a century, has been dropped along with Kusal , an aggressive left-handed batter who has reportedly not had enough match practice.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/N...recalls-nine-ODI-players-from-BIA-141621.html

 

[jaisan]

What a thick head!No wonder sl is struggling to compete when this kind of people at the helm. Disgusting....

 

[MenInG]

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...eries-turned-back-at-colombo-airport-4968871/

Nine Sri Lankan players that were set to travel to India for the upcoming ODI series were reportedly turned around in the last minute by Sri Lanka Cricket officials. According to reports in local Sri Lankan media, the country’s sports minister had not approved of the squad. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had apparently said that it was impossible for him to approve a team at such short notice and that there will be a meeting in the afternoon to sort the matter.

Unlike India, where the BCCI has absolute power over Indian team selection and the Indian Sports Ministry has no say in the matter, a 1973 law gives the Sri Lankan sports minister power to change teams before they compete, effectively making that office’s the final word in team selection. It is reported that Jayasekara was incensed by the fact that the players were allowed to leave without him having cleared the final team. As per reports, the players stopped from leaving were led by newly appointed captain Thisara Perrera, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep.

The rest of the team is playing in India in the three-match Test series. They are trailing the the series 1-0 and are playing the third Test in Delhi. Sri Lankan players have been facing problems in India’s national capital due to pollution. Play had been stopped for a significant part of Day 2 with Sri Lankan pacers unable to continue playing.

 

[UN talkz]

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...eries-turned-back-at-colombo-airport-4968871/

Nine Sri Lankan players that were set to travel to India for the upcoming ODI series were reportedly turned around in the last minute by Sri Lanka Cricket officials. According to reports in local Sri Lankan media, the country’s sports minister had not approved of the squad. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had apparently said that it was impossible for him to approve a team at such short notice and that there will be a meeting in the afternoon to sort the matter.

Unlike India, where the BCCI has absolute power over Indian team selection and the Indian Sports Ministry has no say in the matter, a 1973 law gives the Sri Lankan sports minister power to change teams before they compete, effectively making that office’s the final word in team selection. It is reported that Jayasekara was incensed by the fact that the players were allowed to leave without him having cleared the final team. As per reports, the players stopped from leaving were led by newly appointed captain Thisara Perrera, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep.

The rest of the team is playing in India in the three-match Test series. They are trailing the the series 1-0 and are playing the third Test in Delhi. Sri Lankan players have been facing problems in India’s national capital due to pollution. Play had been stopped for a significant part of Day 2 with Sri Lankan pacers unable to continue playing.

Lol... best entertaining team of the year on and off the field.

 

[sl-fan-of-pak]

Dayasiri Jayasekara is one of the better MPs in SL lol

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Bizzare.

 

[UN talkz]

India is ranked in second position, behind South Africa.
India go into their One Day International series against Sri Lanka starting Sunday with the aim of winning 3-0 and overtaking South Africa to take top position in the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings.

India, who are top-ranked in Test cricket, are on 120 points in the ODI rankings, only one point behind South Africa and will go ahead if they win the first match in Dharamsala on Sunday.

India will reach 121 points and edge South Africa on decimal points if they take a 1-0 lead in the series but will have to also win the following two matches in Mohali and Visakakhapatnam on 13 and 17 December if they want to keep the lead since Sri Lanka are eighth on the table with 83 points and the rankings system is weighted to reflect the difference in ranking points

India will slip to 119 points even with a 2-1 win in the ODI series, which follows a three-Test series between the two sides, which India won 1-0.

On the other hand, eighth-ranked Sri Lanka will remain on 83 points even with a 3-0 loss but can go up to 87 points with a 3-0 series win.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/532278

 

[WengerOut]

Contrary to many , India is an average ODI team with the top 3 , the only consistent performers.

 

[UN talkz]

Kedar Jadhav has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka due to hamstring injury and Tamil Nadu all-rounder Washington Sundar has been called in as his replacement. Sundar was earlier drafted in the T20I squad as well that would face Sri Lanka in a three-match series.

The right-hand batsman had been doing rehabilitation work at NCA in Bangalore and had to be monitored ahead of first ODI. Jadhav failed to prove his fitness and was ruled out of the series. The ODI series will commence on Sunday when the two side lock horns with each other in Dharamsala.

Rohit Sharma was earlier handed over the captaincy in absence of Virat Kohli. “It will be a completely different ball game altogether. But the process and basics of captaincy remains the same. We have different set of players than in an IPL team but having played with these guys for some time now, I do understand their strengths and weaknesses. It will be all about going there and executing and making everyone comfortable,” Rohit Sharma ahead of his maiden captaincy stint.

Teams:
India (From): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Washington Sundar, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Siddarth Kaul

Sri Lanka (From): Niroshan Dickwella(w), Upul Tharanga, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera(c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Asela Gunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Chaturanga de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sachith Pathirana

http://indianexpress.com/article/sp...gton-sundar-called-in-as-replacement-4975527/

 

[Sean143]

Jeewan Mendis back in contention

Spinning all-rounder Jeewan Mendis has been named in the 20-man squad selected for the three-match T20 series against India. The series will be played after the ODI series which begins today in Dharamsala. Sri Lanka has named a full strength squad, having sent a depleted side to Pakistan after several first choice Sri Lankan cricketers refused to tour Lahore for the final T20.

Mendis, 34, last played a T20 international in 2013 but it’s not sure whether the former Thomian cricketer would make it to the final squad of 15.

The team captain by Thisara Perera will also see the return of Lasith Malinga who has been a spent force in recent months. With his impact diminishing, the selectors have not considered Malinga for the 50-over format in recent months.

Apart from seamer Suranga Lakmal, all the players in the current limited over squad are among the 20-man squad along with Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana and Vishwa Fernando. Kusal Mendis did not make it to the 20-man squad. A poor outing against Pakistan saw him being axed from the Test and ODI teams as well. The team will be pruned down to 15 later.

Source Link:http://www.sundaytimes.lk/171210/sports/jeewan-mendis-back-in-contention-272489.html

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka drop Malinga for Indian T20 series

Colombo - Sri Lanka has dropped fast bowler Lasith Malinga from their 15-man squad for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against India.

Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement on Friday that it has "rested" Malinga, who was part of the Bangladesh Premier League until earlier this month.

It is the second successive series for which the 34-year-old fast bowler has been overlooked.

He last played for Sri Lanka in the only Twenty20 match against India last July and was dropped for the one-day internationals as well as T20 games against Pakistan played in the United Arab Emirates.

Malinga was also not considered for the current one-day international series in India.

The omission may be a sign that the Sri Lankan cricket authorities are looking beyond Malinga, who has been a match winner for his team since making his debut 13 years ago.

Malinga made his international debut in 2004 in a Test match against Australia and with his round-arm slinging action and pinpoint yorkers, established himself as one of the most feared bowlers in international cricket.

Frequent injuries cut short his Test career with 101 wickets and concentrated on shorter formats and he has been a first-choice fast bowler for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League as well as several other T20 franchises around the world.

He has captured 301 and 90 wickets in one-day internationals and T20 internationals respectively.

The team, led by Thisara Perera, will play three T20 matches against India starting December 20.

The squad includes three fast bowlers in Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando.

Sri Lanka squad:

Thisara Perera (captain), Upul Tharanga Angelo Mathews Kusal Perera Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Asela Gunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/sri-lanka-drop-malinga-for-indian-t20-series-20171215

 

[Savage]

Hamstring injury rules Angelo Mathews out of final T20I

Angelo Mathews was forced to return to the dressing room halfway through his third over - 12th in the Indian innings - as he suffered a grade one hamstring tear. He didn't come out to bat either as Sri Lanka suffered a heavy 88-run defeat in the second T20I in Indore on Friday (December 22).

"Angelo will not play the last game of the series. According to the physiotherapist Nirmalan Dhanabalasingham, he will be out for about two weeks," Sri Lanka's team manager Asanka Gurusinha told Cricbuzz.

Mathews has a long history of hamstring, calf and ankle injuries and was forced to return home early from the tour of South Africa in January this year. He was out for five months and when he made his return during the Champions Trophy in England, he played only as a specialist batsman.

He had also hurt his calf during training ahead of the tour of UAE for the series against Pakistan in September, and was ruled out for eight weeks before he made a comeback in India.

Mathews has been Sri Lanka's best batsman on the current tour with a century in the third Test in Delhi and a hundred in the second ODI in Mohali.

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-new...angelo-mathews-out-of-final-t20i-cricket-news