Asalanka leads Sri Lanka in ODI series against England

Sri Lanka named a 17-member squad led by Charith Asalanka Wednesday for a three-match ODI tournament against England, the first home series in just over seven years.

The opening game will be on Thursday with the second on Saturday.

The final is on Tuesday, with all three to be played at the Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.

England’s last ODI tour of Sri Lanka was in 2018 when they won the series 3-1.

Brook feels lucky to still be England captain

England white-ball captain Harry Brook on Wednesday admitted it was ‘not the right thing to do’ to get into an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand, but insisted “I’ve learnt from my mistakes”.

The 26-year-old was fined £30,000 ($40,000) by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the incident in Wellington the night before a one-day international.

England lost the match the next day with Brook scoring just six.

“I’ve learnt from my mistakes,” Brook told reporters in Colombo.

“I’ve reflected a lot and I know it wasn’t the right thing to do,” he said, speaking publicly for the first time about the incident on the tour that preceded the Ashes series, which England lost 4-1.

“I want to apologise to my team-mates, the fans and the ECB for putting them in a tricky situation,” said Brook, who will lead England in next month’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“It will never happen again. I’m extremely sorry.”

Controversy dogged England’s Ashes series, with allegations of poor preparations, muddled team selection and a “drinking culture” in the England camp.

England players were photographed spending hours in bars during a mid-series beach resort break, with a video of an apparently drunk Ben Duckett circulating on social media.

The three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals, England’s final warm-ups before the T20 World Cup begins on Feb.7.

Brook said the series would be a timely litmus test for his side, who have been searching for rhythm and results.

“It’s important to get used to the conditions, the climate and the heat,” Brook said. “We are looking forward to a competitive series.”

England’s white-ball fortunes have nosedived since their forgettable 50-over World Cup campaign in India in 2023 where, as defending champions, they failed to make the semi-finals.

Since then, they have lost six of their last seven bilateral series and endured a Champions Trophy to forget, bowing out after losing all three group games.

“We would like to be a little more consistent, absorb pressure and stay in the game for longer periods,” Brook said.

“Yes, we’ve lost a few series, but I feel we’re heading in the right direction”.

Sri Lanka are wrestling with selection issues ahead of co-hosting the World Cup.

Charith Asalanka was removed as T20 captain late last year but continues to lead the 50-over side.

Injury-prone strike bowler Dushmantha Chameera has been rested for this series, while there remains uncertainty over the availability of leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

“I would have liked to have both in the team,” Asalanka said.

“But we have to look at the bigger picture, which is the World Cup. We haven’t made a final call on Hasaranga yet.”

Agencies