
Sri Lanka recalled top order batsman Bhanuka Rajapakse into the squad for the three T20 matches against Australia starting on June 7 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the matches are likely to be his most crucial.
Australia are the current holders of the T20 World Cup.
Rajapakse last played in a T20 for Sri Lanka in November 2021 which was against the West Indies at the World Cup in the UAE.
Despite being a shot-maker Rajapakse, now age 30, has played in only 18 T20 Internationals scoring 320 runs with a top score of 77 against Pakistan and has struck 25 fours and 18 sixes.
In his first Indian Premier League season for the Punjab Kings Rajapakse played in nine matches in the concluded 2022 season with a top score of 43.
He was treated shabbily by the team selectors over a controversial fitness test and quit the scene early this year but reversed his decision after a popular outcry to return.
Sri Lanka and Australia will also feature in a five-match ODI series starting on June 14 in Pallekele before taking on the host team in a two-Test series starting on June 29 in Galle.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka Cricket has decided against selling tickets at the venues on match days and called on followers to use its online purchasing system by visiting srilankacricket.lk for ticket purchases.
Sri Lanka T20 squad.
Dasun Shanaka (captain) Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan
Australia T20 Squad:
Aaron Finch (c) Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade