Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
SRI LANKA are expected to tour Zimbabwe later this month without their talismanic leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
The 28-year-old star damaged his right hamstring while batting in the final ODI against Bangladesh in July, an injury that ruled him out of the subsequent T20I series against the same opponents. He had been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s turnaround in that ODI opener, sparking a record collapse against the Tigers.
Reports from Sri Lanka say Hasaranga remains sidelined. A probable ODI squad published by Sports Pavilion left him out alongside Avishka Fernando and Eshan Malinga. In their place, selectors are expected to include Pavan Rathnayake and Nuwanidu Fernando in a side that still boasts the likes of Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, and Asitha Fernando.
Asalanka is also tipped to captain the T20I squad, which features Kamil Mishara, Vishen Halambage, Dushan Hemantha and Dushmantha Chameera. Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay and Malinga are missing from that group.
The series, which starts on August 29 at Harare Sports Club, will feature two One Day Internationals and three T20Is. For Zimbabwe, it marks their first 50-over cricket in six months, having last played ODIs in February against Ireland, a series they won 2-1.
Since then, the Chevrons have endured a barren Test run, including 2-0 whitewashes against South Africa and New Zealand at Queens Sports Club.
The forthcoming ODIs will also be the first between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka since January 2024, when the hosts won 2-0 in Colombo after one game was washed out.
Overall, the two sides have met 64 times in ODIs, with Sri Lanka dominant on 49 wins compared to Zimbabwe’s 12. Only three of Zimbabwe’s victories came at home.
The T20Is will provide another test. The Chevrons have played Sri Lanka in six matches across formats, but only one was a bilateral series. Their lone victory remains a solitary T20I win. —@brando_malvin
