Sri Lankan ace Wanindu Hasaranga has been recalled to the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.
The team, which will play three ODIs and three T20Is, will also see the return of several players who were previously left out.
Hasaranga missed Sri Lanka’s last ODI assignment, the home series against New Zealand in November, due to a hamstring injury.
However, he has now regained full fitness and is expected to play a crucial role in the 50-over format.
Dunith Wellalage, who lost his place in the T20I squad for the tour, has been retained in the ODI squad, providing much-needed depth to Sri Lanka’s all-round options.
The selectors made four changes to the team that played in the previous series against New Zealand.
Dushan Hemantha, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dishan Madushanka were all omitted.
Kusal Perera, who returned to the ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup in the last series against New Zealand, did not feature in either game.
Dushan Hemantha had replaced Hasaranga in the previous team but has now been left out in favor of the returning leg-spinner.
Apart from Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have recalled batsman Nuwanidu Fernando, who made his ODI debut against India in 2023, and fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who last played in the format during the series in Bangladesh earlier this year.
Unheralded medium Eshan Malinga was also included in the squad for the above 50 games, giving Sri Lanka a new option in the bowling attack.
The tour will begin with the T20I series on December 28, with the three ODIs scheduled for January 5, 8 and 11.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara , Eshan Malinga
