Picture Credit: Sri Lanka Cricket
With the T20 World Cup beginning in less than a month's time, Sri Lanka Cricket has provided an important update with regards to their squad for the ICC event. While they had already announced their squad for the world tournament set to be played in Oman and UAE, they have now added five more players to the list of cricketers.
Consequently, Pathum Nissanka, Minod Bhanuka, Ashen Bandara, Lakshan Sandakan and Ramesh Mendis have been included in Sri Lanka's contingent for the marquee competition. The names were announced by the Sri Lanka Cricket board through a release only after Sri Lanka's Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa ratified the same.
In the same official release by the cricket governing body of the island nation, it was conveyed that Lahiru Madushanka, who was earlier included in the original squad for the T20 World Cup, will no longer be travelling with the team to the Middle East since he picked up an injury and is continuing to recover.
As a result, the Sri Lanka squad for the event now has 23 players and they are set to depart for Oman on October 3.
Chris Gayle leaves IPL bio-bubble to stay fresh for T20 World Cup
Meanwhile, Indian Premier League franchise Punjab Kings announced on Thursday that Caribbean star Chris Gayle has decided to leave the IPL bio-bubble owing to bubble fatigue. Gayle, who is part of the T20 World Cup, said that he wanted to keep himself fresh for the world event and hence opted to take a break from the bubble.
"Over the last few months, I have been a part of the CWI bubble, CPL bubble followed by the IPL bubble, and I wish to mentally recharge and refresh myself," Gayle was quoted as saying.
"I want to refocus on helping the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and would like to take a break in Dubai. My thanks to the Punjab Kings for giving me the time off. My wishes and hopes are with the squad always. All the very best for the games coming up," he added.
Meanwhile, with several India players named in the World Cup going through a lean patch in the IPL and several omitted players performing consistently, even the BCCI may consider making a few changes. However, there has not been any official statement from them so far.