Sri Lanka names T20 squad for Bangladesh series

After a draw in the first Test, Sri Lanka will lock horns against Bangladesh in the final second test and aim to win it in a desperate attempt to revive their fortunes. Following the culmination of the red ball format, the nations will play in two T20Is. And ahead of the limited-overs leg, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the squad for the same.

The first T20 squad under the tutelage of Chandika Hathurusingha features a preponderance of youth. The team will bear a new look with a fresh crop of players brought in. Young seamers Asitha Fernando and Shehan Madushanka, inexperienced spinners Jeffrey Vandersay and Amila Aponso, and seam-bowling allrounder Dasun Shanaka, all received a call-up for the two-match series.

Amidst a squad brimming with youth, veteran leg-spinning all-rounder Jeevan Mendis earned a place for himself in the team. It has been almost three years since Mendis donned the national outfit.Though his recall was unexpected, he has nevertheless been in good bowling form for Tamil Union Cricket Club in the ongoing Premier League first-class tournament.

The injury troubles of Angelo Mathews will continue to hurt Sri Lanka as their white-ball captain has been ruled out of the two-match T20I series. In his continued absence, the team will be led by Dinesh Chandimal, who himself has not played a T20 in over a year. Thisara Perera, who also features in the team was however overlooked for the captaincy.

Lack of game-time force Malinga to contemplate retirement

Fast bowler Lasith Malinga will once again spend it on the sidelines, although the selectors are hopeful that he will make a comeback for Nidhas Trophy. The 34-year-old, who missed out on international cricket for close to two years due to a knee injury, made a comeback during Champions Trophy last June. Since his return, Malinga has featured in 13 ODIs and has taken just 10 wickets at an average of 62.

After a poor home series against India, he was dropped for the tours of UAE and India. However, he has done reasonably well in T20Is since the injury. Also, with the 2019 World Cup just around the corner, and Malinga entering the later stages of his career, he was keen to earn a spot in the national team for the mega-event. But this continued lack of game time has only weakened his ambitions as he contemplates on pulling the plug on his long and illustrious career.

Sri Lanka T20 squad:

Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Shehan Madushanka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Jeevan Mendis, Asitha Fernando

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