T20I Series: Sri Lanka Bring Mendis As Stand-by After Fernando Hospitalised For Chest Infection

T20I series: Sri Lanka bring Mendis as stand-by after Fernando hospitalised for chest infection (Image Source: IANS)

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium: Ahead of their T20I series against India commencing on Saturday, Sri Lanka have brought in off-spinner Ramesh Mendis as a stand-by player due to fast-bowler Binura Fernando being hospitalised.

A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday said left-arm fast-bowler Fernando has been hospitalised because of a chest infection. Subsequently, they have now brought Mendis into the Charith Asalanka-led T20I squad as a standby player.

Fernando had earned a return to Sri Lanka’s T20I squad by picking up 13 wickets across eight games at a miserly economic rate of 6.81 for Colombo Strikers in the 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL). Mendis, the stand-by player, has only played two T20Is for Sri Lanka, picking just one wicket.

A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday said left-arm fast-bowler Fernando has been hospitalised because of a chest infection. Subsequently, they have now brought Mendis into the Charith Asalanka-led T20I squad as a standby player.

India begin their tour of Sri Lanka with back-to-back T20Is on July 27 and 28, followed by the third game on July 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The scene then shifts to the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo hosting three ODIs on August 2, 4 and 7 respectively.