Avishka Fernando in Sri Lanka squad for first two Australia ODIs; Dilshan returns

Avishka Fernando, the 18-year-old top-order batsman, has been called-up to the senior Sri Lankan side for the upcoming five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Australia at home, starting on August 21 (Sunday). Twenty-three-year-old left-arm spinner Amila Aponso has also been given his first opportunity with the senior squad. Veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is also back in the side after skipping the England series due to personal reasons.


The Sri Lankan think-tank has also handed all-rounders Milinda Siriwardana and Thisara Perera a way back into the squad after axing them for the tour of England. Fervez Maharoof, who made a surprise return to the ODI team in England after a break of four years, has been axed, along with Suraj Randiv, Chaminda Bandara and Dasun Shanaka.

Fernando's selection comes at the back of commendable performance for the Under-19 side in England, where he notched up back-to-back hundreds last week. Aponso also turned heads with an excellent performance last week, when he bagged 13 wickets (a fifer and an eight-wicket haul) for Sri Lanka Development Emerging Team against South Emerging Players in Potchefstroom. The visitors lost but Aponso's contribution did not go unnoticed.

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Avishka Fernando, Amila Aponso