Sri Lanka announce 16-man squad for T20I series against New Zealand

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have announced a 16-member squad, led by captain Charith Asalanka, for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. Sri Lanka's limited-overs tour of New Zealand comprises three T20Is followed by as many ODIs.

The tour kicks off with the T20I series at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Saturday, December 28. The venue will also be hosting the second game two days later, following which the teams will be heading to Nelson for the final T20I, set to be played on January 2, 2025.

Sri Lanka's T20I squad will depart for New Zealand on Friday, December 20. Meanwhile, the ODIs will be held at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Hamilton's Seddon Park and Auckland's Eden Park on January 5, 8 and 11, respectively.

Here's Sri Lanka's T20I squad for the tour:

Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando

Honours were shared when Sri Lanka last played New Zealand in a T20I series

The two sides faced off in a two-match T20I series during the Kiwis' limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka in November this year. While the hosts claimed the series opener by four wickets, the Blackcaps made it 1-1, winning the second T20I by five runs while defending a total of just 108 runs.

Both fixtures were played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium. Waindu Hasaranga, who picked up six wickets in two matches, was adjudged Player of the Series.

Sri Lanka clinched the three-match ODI series 2-0 with wins in the first two clashes before the final game in Pallekele got called off due to incessant rain. Earlier in September, Sri Lanka whitewashed the Tim Sothee-led side in a two-match Test series.

Dhananjaya de Silva's men were recently on the receiving end of a whitewash. South Africa beat them 2-0 in the Test series on Sri Lanka's tour of the Rainbow nation. Having tasted defeat in the first Test in Durban by 233 runs, they suffered another heavy loss in the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha by 109 runs.