There was no room for Niroshan Dickwella, but the selectors have included the uncapped Nuwan Thushara, Janith Liyanage and Kamil Mishara
Several of these players have made it into this squad on the back of good Lanka Premier League performances. Among seam bowlers, Thushara was one of the top three wicket-takers in the competition, claiming 12 wickets across eight matches, with an economy rate of 8.11. Liyanage hit 108 runs at a strike rate of 120 in the four LPL matches he played; Kusal Mendis was the tournament’s top run-scorer with 327 runs; and Gunathilaka had the sixth-highest run tally.
The only new player not selected on the basis of LPL performances is the 20-year-old Mishara, who did not play a match in the tournament. He has largely been picked on promise.
The seam attack will be led in Australia by Dushmantha Chameera, and also include Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Binura Fernando, Shiran Fernando, and Thushara. Nuwan Pradeep has not been picked.
Wanindu Hasaranga (who missed the Zimbabwe ODIs with an injury), Maheesh Theekshana, Vandersay, and Ramesh Mendis form the frontline spin contingent.
The top order will likely consist of Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (who has been named vice-captain), and perhaps Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal. Kamindu Mendis has not made the squad.
The first T20I of the series is scheduled for February 11. The matches will be played in Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Melbourne.
Sri Lanka T20I squad for Australia tour: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf