Cricket News

Kusal Perera to miss Bangladesh T20Is owing to respiratory issue, Niroshan Dickwella handed a recall

Sri Lanka’s T20I series against Bangladesh has suffered a setback with the news that batsman Kusal Perera has been ruled out due to a respiratory infection. Sri Lanka Cricket’s selection committee has named Niroshan Dickwella as Perera’s replacement.

Dickwella returns to the Sri Lankan T20I setup after a period on the sidelines. The wicketkeeper-batsman last played a T20I for Sri Lanka in June 2021 against England. While his selection offers experience, Dickwella will be looking to capitalize on this opportunity and solidify his place in the T20I squad.

The three-match T20I series against Bangladesh is scheduled to begin on March 4. The rest of the Sri Lankan squad flew out to Bangladesh on February 29th, while Dickwella is expected to join the team on Saturday.

One eye on the T20 World Cup!

The upcoming T20I series transcends a simple bilateral contest. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, both teams have crucial objectives to achieve, making this series a vital stepping stone.

Sri Lanka’s batting needs work in particular. Kusal Perera’s absence weakens the lineup, but it also creates an opportunity for someone like Dickwella or Sadeera Samarawickrama to stake their claim alongside Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis at the top order. This series is a chance for Sri Lanka to experiment with combinations and solidify their core group before the World Cup.

For Bangladesh, the series presents a golden opportunity to solidify their preparations for the marquee event. Victories will not only boost their confidence but also provide valuable momentum heading into the World Cup. They can use the series to refine their strategies and identify areas for improvement before the global tournament. They will be desperate to do well in the tournament after having endured two miserable campaigns in 2021 and 2022.

The fight for individual places in both squads will be fierce. Players will be desperate to impress the selectors with consistent performances. This competitive spirit promises to elevate the quality of cricket on display. With both teams having a lot at stake, expect a tightly contested series.