Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) has not included Sri Lanka internationals Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka in the squad for today’s three-day Tier B domestic match.
The decision stems from the duo leaving for the ILT20 without featuring in SSC’s domestic fixtures, a move that has reportedly angered the club. Both players left for the tournament after receiving no-objection certificates from Sri Lanka Cricket.
The development comes at a crucial time for Sri Lanka Cricket, which had recalled several national players from overseas leagues to ensure match practice in local conditions, particularly against spin, ahead of the upcoming World Cup and the home series against Pakistan.
As part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s preparation plans, all centrally contracted players were instructed to take part in at least one three-day domestic match before the Pakistan series. However, SSC’s decision means Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka will now be unable to feature in the scheduled red-ball fixture for the club and will be limited to training sessions instead.
SSC are currently competing in Division Two of Sri Lanka’s domestic structure, following relegation last season.
Meanwhile, several players from Sri Lanka’s 25-member squad were in action in the three-day fixtures that began today, with Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage scoring centuries.
The Sri Lanka team is currently training in Colombo and is scheduled to travel to Dambulla on January 2 ahead of the Pakistan series, which will begin on January 7. (Newswire)
