IPL All-Star Pathirana Joins Sri Lanka's Roster for Afghan Tour

Matheesha Pathirana, the winner of the Indian Premier League, was added to Sri Lanka's 16-man one-day international squad on Tuesday in preparation for their upcoming three-match home series against Afghanistan.

The 20-year-old Pathirana will play his first ODI for Sri Lanka if he is selected for the final squad.
Pathirana, who goes by the moniker "Baby Malinga" due to his slingshot bowling style that is reminiscent of Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga, has participated in two Twenty20 international matches.

The south of the island, Hambantota, will host all three games on June 2, 4, and 7, and hasn't hosted an international match since February 2020.

Pathirana was an important member of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the IPL championship for a record-tying fifth time on Monday in Ahmedabad.
He grabbed an impressive 19 wickets in the competition thanks to his vicious yorker, which he used to take two for 44 in the match.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the captain of Chennai, referred to him as "special".