ICC T20: Sri Lanka names squad under Lasith Malinga’s captaincy

Yorker King Lasith Malinga will lead the defending Twenty20 champions Sri Lanka in upcoming Asia Cup and ICC Twenty20 World Cup next month.

Angelo Mathews, the Test and One-Day International skipper, also returned to the side, having recovered from a groin injury, and will be Malinga’s deputy. From the India tour squad, Dilhara Fernando, Asela Gunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Danushka Gunathilaka and Binura Fernando were dropped. The seam attack is spearheaded by captain Malinga; Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera and Thisara Perera are in tow.

In the batting department, the onus will be on Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal to do most of the scoring at the top, while Mathews, Perera and Kulasekara will strengthen the middle order. Shanaka and Jayasuriya have played four and five T20 internationals respectively, and even Dinesh Chandimal has not established himself in the format yet, averaging less than 15 in 28 T20 worldwide innings.

Newcomer wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella has also been brought in.

Sri Lanka also roped in Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath to add to the experience of the team.

However, Nuwan Pradeep, the young pacer, recently sidelined by hamstring injury, found no mention.

Sri Lanka begin their Asia Cup campaign in Mirpur, Bangladesh, on February 25 and their World T20 commences in Kolkata on March 17.