(UTV|COLOMBO) – Asia Cup, the biggest cricketing event in the Asian continent is all set to kick start on 15 September later this year. This time the tournament will be hosted by United Arab Emirates (UAE), the BDCricTime reported.
The series will feature six teams in two groups. Group A consists India, Pakistan and one team from qualifiers. Group B consists Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. This time it will be back to the 50 over format as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2019 is coming more closer.
Less than a month to go for the tournament, Sri Lankan Cricket Board has announced a 31 member preliminary squad for the tournament. And their training is expected to commence on 05 September.
Sri Lankans will be coming in to the tournament with some convincing performances in the last South African series even though they lost the One-Day International (ODI) series. Also they are the defending champions of the 50 over Asia Cup.
The 31 member squad features some new faces such as Shammu Ashan, Shehan Madushanka, Nishan Peiris, Kamindu Mendis, Jehan Daniel. Dinesh Chandimal who was in the ban during the South Africa series is expected to back as the Captain for the team.
Sri Lankan team will face Bangladesh in their opening game on 15 September in Dubai. Then they will face Afghanistan on 17 September in Abu Dhabi.
The 31 member preliminary squad is as follows:
Thisara Perera, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sadakan, Nishan Peiris, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Jehan Daniel, Shammu Ashan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne.
[alert color=”faebcc” icon=”fa-commenting”]Keeping up to date with breaking news while you are on the move is now simple with UTV Alerts [textmarker color=”8a6d3b”]Type REG UTV and send to 77000[/textmarker] on your Dialog, Airtel, or Hutch mobile connection[/alert]
