Japan host Sri Lanka Emerging Squad in Sano

Japan’s preparation for their East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Regional Final begins today, hosting a Sri Lanka Emerging squad for five T20 matches at the Sano International Cricket Ground.

On top of the invaluable match practice, the tour is hoped to be the beginning of exchanges between the two countries through cricket.

Japan skipper Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming says the pedigree of Sri Lanka’s squad will put his side in a strong position to make their 2024 T20 World Cup qualification run.

“We are very excited to welcome the Sri Lankan Emerging Squad to Japan and to play a series against them.

“It’ll be a great opportunity for our team to compete against players with First Class experience in a Full Member country, in preparation for the T20 World Cup EAP Regional Final.”

All five matches will be broadcast via the Japanese Cricket Association’s YouTube channel around the world, and will be available on FanCode in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The EAP Regional Qualifier runs in late July in Papua New Guinea with the winning sealing a spot for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Japan will face the hosts, Vanuatu and the Philippines for the T20 World Cup spot.

Schedule (local time)

Wednesday May 10 – 10am
Thursday May 11 – 10am
Saturday May 13 – 10am
Sunday May 14 – 10am
Monday May 15 – 10am

Japan Squad:

Kendal Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Ryan Drake, Koji Hardgrave-Abe, Vinay Iyer, Raheel Kano, Shogo Kimura, Kohei Kubota, Piyush Kumbhare, Wataru Miyauchi, Supun Navarathna, Kento Ota-Dobell, Sabaorish Ravichandran, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Dinesh Sandaruwan, Alexander Shirai-Patmore, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Mian Muneeb Siddique, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Ashley Thurgate, Marcus Thurgate, Souta Wada, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake

Sri Lanka Emerging Squad:

Dellon Peiris (c), Sakuna Liyanage, Dunith Jayathunga, Sahil Dias
Ranmith Jayasena, Shehan Fernando, Yohan Liyanage, Sithara Hapuhinna (WK), Hirantha Jayasinghe, Lakshan Gamage, Theesan Vithusan, Imithiyaz Slaza, Sithum Dissanayake, Harshana Wickramasinghe, Danal Hemananda

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Daniel Beswick

Co-founder and one of our #ECPod hosts, Daniel is currently helping on ICC's coverage via their digital client. Daniel has also commentated and presented on ICC.tv broadcasts for pathway events since 2019, and in a rare feat called action at both USA vs PNG and Namibia vs Oman ODI matches at WCL2 2019 on the same day. Daniel has also been a member of WBBL/BBL and Olympic productions at Channel 7, also supporting commentators and on-air talent for the network’s coverage.