{
  "id": 11435836,
  "title": "Sineth Jayawardena, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth in Sri Lanka squad for Pakistan T20Is",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/sineth-jayawardena-vijayakanth-viyaskanth-in-sri-lanka-squad-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T12:14:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/sineth-jayawardena-vijayakanth-viyaskanth-in-sri-lanka-squad-for-pakistan-t20is/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lanka's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan has been announced, with Sineth Jayawardena and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth securing their spots. Jayawardena, a 21-year-old batter, has earned his place due to an impressive recent performance in domestic T20s. He has scored 101 off 52 balls and 82 off 32 balls in the club T20 competition over the past month.\n\nViyaskanth, a legspinner, has replaced Wanindu Hasaranga, who is currently injured. Seam-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickremesinghe, batter Sahan Arachchige, and seamer Binura Fernando have also been included in the squad. Seamer Dushmantha Chameera was named on the list as well, but his participation is contingent on his fitness.\n\nNotable absences from the squad include batter Charith Asalanka, fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake, and batting allrounder Janith Liyanage. Fast bowler Chameera's inclusion is not guaranteed due to his fitness concerns.\n\nJayawardena's call-up is based on his outstanding recent form, while the other players have been chosen for their years of performance at the domestic level, and the recent T20I success of the Sri Lankan team is lacking. The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi starting from October 9.",
  "summary": "Opening batter Sineth Jayawardena has charged into the Sri Lanka T20I squad for the series against Pakistan, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has claimed the legspinner’s spot in the absence of the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. Seam-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickremesinghe has also been named, as has batter Sahan Arachchige, while seamer Binura Fernando makes a return. Omitted from […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Sineth Jayawardena, 21, selected for T20 series against Pakistan",
    "Vijayakanth Viyaskanth replaces injured Wanindu Hasaranga",
    "Chamindu Wickremesinghe, Sahan Arachchige, and Binura Fernando included"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}