Three standout performers from the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side—keeper-batter Lahiru Udara, Nuwanidu Fernando, and pacer Eshan Malinga—have been added to Sri Lanka’s squad for the third and final ODI against New Zealand, scheduled for 19th November in Pallekele.
The hosts, having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead, have chosen to rest four key players ahead of their crucial two-Test series in South Africa. Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, and Asitha Fernando have been released from the squad to manage workloads and ensure fitness for the longer format.
This marks Sri Lanka’s first bilateral ODI series win over New Zealand since November 2012, adding extra significance to the occasion. With the series already sealed, the team management has shifted focus towards testing the depth of their squad and providing opportunities to players who have been performing consistently at the domestic and ‘A’ levels. Earlier, these three players were named as standby options when Sri Lanka announced the original 17-member squad for the ODI series.
