Sri Lanka prepare for New Zealand challenge with unchanged T20I squad
Sri Lanka have named a strong 16-member squad led by Charith Asalanka for a six-match white-ball series involving three T20Is followed by three ODIs, against New Zealand.
Experienced fast bowler Tim Southee will undergo surgery this Thursday on the thumb he dislocated and fractured in the fourth and final ODI against England, the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZC) said on Wednesday.
The veteran seamer broke and dislocated his right thumb while attempting to take a catch during the fourth ODI against England last Friday.
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A decision on the senior pace-bowler’s availability for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in India will be made early next week once the results of the surgery are known.
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Head coach Gary Stead remained hopeful Southee could recover in time to be available for the tournament.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed the surgery goes well for Tim. He’ll have some pins or screws inserted in his right thumb and, providing the procedure is a success, it will be a matter of ensuring Tim can tolerate the pain and manage the actual wound when returning to train and play.
“Our opening game of the World Cup against England is not until Thursday October 5 in Ahmedabad, so that would be our logical target in terms of his availability. Tim’s obviously a hugely experienced and important figure in our team and we want to give him every chance to be part of this World Cup campaign.”
After losing to England 3-1 in a four-match ODI series, New Zealand will now play three ODIs in Bangladesh starting September 21 before the BlackCaps’ World Cup warm-up matches starting with Pakistan in Hyderabad on Friday September 29, followed by a meeting with South Africa in Trivandrum on Monday October 2.
The New Zealand-based World Cup players not on the current tour of Bangladesh will depart to India from next Tuesday.
New Zealand will open their campaign against defending champions England in what will be the re-match of the 2019 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5.
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