by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka confirmed that Kusal Mendis will open batting in the three match series against Zimbabwe that gets underway at Pallekele on Sunday. Mendis was not part of the initial squad but was a late addition after several COVID positive cases within the Sri Lanka bubble.

The 26-year-old Mendis last played international cricket more than six months ago and missed several series after he was suspended by Sri Lanka Cricket along with Niroshan Dickwell and Danushka Gunathilaka for breaching the bio-secure bubble during the team’s tour of England. The one year suspension was reduced to six months on appeal and Mendis now finds huge responsibility on his shoulders with the team missing Avishka Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva.

Mendis is the brightest Sri Lankan talent to emerge in the last ten years and there have been some terrific match winning knocks like in Port Elizabeth three years ago when he helped the team to seal a series win in South Africa against an attack comprising Steyn, Rabada and Olivier. However, lack of consistency has been an issue. Given his talent and now with responsibility on his shoulders, fans will be hoping that he will have a telling impact in this series and moves forward emerging as one of world’s best batsmen.

Mendis will partner Pathum Nissanka who was in good nick in the Test series against West Indies last month.

Charith Asalanka was terrific during the T-20 World Cup last year and he has got an opportunity to cement his place in the ODI side as well having made his Test debut in December.

Injury to Minod Bhanuka has forced the selectors to rethink their strategy and it is likely that Niroshan Dickwella who was added to the bubble in Kandy will be drafted into the squad.

Meanwhile Dushmantha Chameera, who had tested positive for COVID two weeks ago has been medically cleared to resume training but whether he will be available for the series opener remains to be seen. The Island learns that the fast bowler will be given ample time to be match fit before making a return.

Three players who were named in the squad; Avishka Fernando, Janith Liyanage and Kamil Mishara were pulled out from the squad after testing positive for COVID. Dhananjaya de Silva, deputy to Dasun Shanaka, has been left out due to personal reasons and Sri Lanka’s batting looks thin on experience.

All three ODIs will be played at Pallekele.