Hasaranga, who was suspended for two T20I matches by the ICC following his run-in with umpire Lyndon Hannibal in the third T20I against Afghanistan on February 21, will be returning as captain for the third T20I on March 9. Asalanka, who is the designated vice-captain for the series, will be leading Sri Lanka for the first time.
Fernando gets into the squad largely on the back of good ODI form. In the series against Afghanistan, he’d hit 91 off 66 and a run-a-ball 88. He’d last played a T20I in January last year, and has been an inconsistent presence in Sri Lanka’s squad owing to a combination of fitness and form. Sri Lanka’s new set of selectors appear to want to reintegrate him into the top teams, however.
Legspinner Vandersay, meanwhile, last played at T20I two years ago. He is there essentially as cover for Hasaranga in the matches in which Hasaranga is suspended. Akila Dananjaya and Maheesh Theekshana are the other frontline spinners in the squad.
The first T20I is scheduled for March 4. The whole series is set to be played in Sylhet.
Sri Lanka T20I squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (capt), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay
Source: ESPN Crickinfo