Sri Lanka have been drawn in Pool D, alongside Bangladesh and Oman.
Twelve teams will compete in the Hong Kong Sixes 2024 tournament from November 1 to November 3 at Mong Kok, with Sri Lanka among them. Sri Lanka have been drawn in Pool D, alongside Bangladesh and Oman.
Sri Lanka have announced their seven players, who, although, haven’t played international cricket that much, have plenty of experience in domestic cricket. All seven players are well-versed in local competitions, including franchise league cricket. Sri Lanka will be led by Lahiru Madushanka in this tournament.
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Let’s analyse each player separately and discuss them in detail from Sri Lanka squad.
Lahiru Madushanka, 32, will lead the side in the tournament. An all-rounder who bats and bowls medium pace, has represented Sri Lanka in 4 ODIs and 3 T20Is, where he also picked up 4 wickets in ODIs.
Madushanka has a good experience of first-class cricket at the domestic level. He has played 99 First-Class matches so far, scoring 3,796 runs and taking 147 wickets. In List A cricket, he has also played 118 matches, scoring 1,736 runs and taking 103 wickets. His T20 experience includes 88 matches in which he scored 852 runs and took 71 wickets.
He has also played in the Lanka Premier League, representing three different teams. He will play a huge role with both bat and ball in the tournament.
Thanuka Dabare, 26, is yet to represent Sri Lanka at the international level but has built a solid reputation in domestic cricket. He has featured in 26 First-Class matches so far, scored 1,007 runs and taken 7 wickets. In List A cricket, he has played 56 matches, accumulating 1,297 runs and 48 wickets. His T20 experience includes 33 matches, where he has registered 661 runs and taken 33 wickets.
Dabare has also played in the Lanka Premier League, representing two different teams. He is an opening batter who can bowl occasionally,and his key role in the tournament will be to provide solid starts at the top of the order.
Dhananjaya Lakshan, aged 26, has played three ODIs for Sri Lanka. He has pretty much experience in domestic cricket, having featured in 50 First-Class matches, with 2,217 runs and 63 wickets. In List A cricket, he played 72 matches, with 1,590 runs and 46 wickets, while in T20s, he has 712 runs and 44 wickets in 65 matches.
Lakshan has also featured in the Lanka Premier League, playing for two different teams. Even though he has generally been regarded as a batting all-rounder, his domestic form seems to indicate that he is capable of being useful with the ball as well.
Lahiru Samarakoon, 27 years old, has played only one international game for Sri Lanka in a T20I at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. He has good amount of experience of first-class cricket as he has played 54 first-class matches in which he amassed 1,607 runs and has 106 wickets. In List A cricket, he has played 71 matches and scored 1,005 runs and taken 76 wickets. In T20s, he has played 62 matches in which he has scored 734 runs and taken 55 wickets.
He has also played in the Lanka Premier League representing three teams, and even featured in one match of Bangladesh Premier League. He is an all-rounder, who bats left-handed and bowls right arm medium-pace.
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Nimesh Vimukthi, 27, made his international debut for Sri Lanka in a T20I during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, just like Samarakoon. At the domestic level, he has played 60 First-Class matches, scoring 1,954 runs and taking 265 wickets. In List A cricket, he has played in 72 matches, scored 690 runs and taken 103 wickets. In T20s, he has 352 runs and 57 wickets across 49 matches.
Vimukthi has also played in the Lanka Premier League, representing three different teams. He is a all-rounder, who bats left-handed and bowls left-arm orthodox spin, adding depth to both batting and bowling departments.
Sadun Weerakkody, 32, is a wicketkeeper who has represented Sri Lanka in 3 ODIs, scoring 73 runs. He has extensive experience in domestic cricket, having played 90 First-Class matches, scored 5,338 runs, along with 132 List A matches, where he has accumulated 3,374 runs. In T20s, he has featured in 55 matches, scored 818 runs. Weerakkody has only played two Lanka Premier League matches.
He will take on the role of wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka, contributing both behind the stumps and with the bat.
Tharindu Ratnayake, 28, is a bowling all-rounder who has not played international cricket for Sri Lanka but has established himself in domestic cricket. He has played 63 First-Class matches and has picked up 274 wickets while scoring 1,352 runs. In List A cricket, he has featured in 79 matches picking 109 wickets and added 854 runs. In T20 he has played 61 matches where he has claimed 68 wickets and scored 464 runs.
Ratnayake has also played Lanka Premier League matches, 8 in total. One of his strengths is the ability to bowl with two hands – he bowls right arm off breaks and left arm orthodox spin.
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