Sri Lanka have recalled Suranga Lakmal for the three-match T20I series, while Dasun Shanaka has been left out of the 16-man squad. Jeffrey Vandersay, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Asitha Fernando are among the other additions.
Lakmal’s return to the side comes after a long absence dating all the way back to March 2018 which is when he played his last T20I. Lakmal’s last ODI came in September in the same year.
Similarly leg-spinner Vandersay hasn’t played a game for Sri Lanka since his ODI appearance against Pakistan in October 2017.
Dinesh Chandimal, who had been in the T20 squad in New Zealand, and had recently top-scored in Sri Lanka’s club-based T20 tournament, has been omitted from this squad as well.
Several injured players were unavailable for selection for this squad. According to chief selector Ashantha de Mel, Angelo Mathews has not yet regained full fitness following his latest hamstring injury, Danushka Gunathilaka continues to suffer with a spine problem, while fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has picked up another hamstring injury, just as he was recovering from the ankle complaint that had seen him leave the tour of Australia.
Kusal Perera’s hamstring injury, meanwhile, is expected to take up to nine weeks to recover from, and he is struggling to make it into the World Cup squad, according to de Mel.
Sri Lanka have included the likes of Angelo Perera, Avishka Fernando and Priyamal Perera, while Oshada Fernando has not been considered despite his good performances in the Test series against South Africa. Along with Fernando, Upul Tharanga and Vishwa Fernando will also return to Sri Lanka after the completion of the ODI series.
Sri Lankan have called their coach Chandika Hathrusingha back after the ODI series to help prepare for the upcoming ICC World Cup. In his absence, Steve Rixon will act as the head coach for the T20I series.
Sri Lanka are currently trailing 4-0 in the ODI series with the threat of a whitewash looming large. They play the last ODI on March 16 in Cape Town, which will also host the opening T20I on March 19. The second game will be played on March 22 in Centurion while Johannesburg will host the final match on March 24.
Squad :
Lasith Malinga – Captain
Niroshan Dickwella – Vice Captain
Avishka Fernando
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Kusal Mendis
Angelo Perera
Dhananjaya De Silva
Kamindu Mendis
Priyamal Perera
Thisara Perera
Suranga Lakmal
Isuru Udana
Asitha Fernando
Akila Dananjaya
Jeffrey Vandersay
Lakshan Sandakan
