Lasith Malinga is in line to make a comeback after over a year out of the game © Associated Press
Dinesh Chandimal, who led Sri Lanka in the T20I series in South Africa, has been dropped from the squad for the three T20Is in Australia, while a clutch of players stage a comeback to the side, most notably Lasith Malinga who has now recovered from injury.
Allrounders Dasun Shanaka and Milinda Siriwardana, and batsmen Dilshan Munaweera and Chamara Kapugedara were also named, after being left out of the squad to South Africa. Upul Tharanga, who is currently leading Sri Lanka in the ODIs in South Africa ODIs, will lead the team in place of Angelo Mathews, who remained unavailable through injury.
Dhananjaya de Silva, Thikshila de Silva, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal were left out of the squad. There was still no place for wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera or legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay.
This is the first time Malinga was picked since he withdrew from the side ahead of the 2016 World T20, citing a bone bruise in his left knee. He was originally expected to only be unavailable for about five months, but had setbacks during his recovery – most recently suffering from dengue in December. If Malinga plays in the first T20I in Melbourne, it will be his first competitive match – international or domestic – in over a year.
Chandimal’s omission was expected following his poor form across formats in South Africa. Sri Lanka did win the T20I series under Chandimal’s leadership, but he only contributed scores of 6 not out, 22 and 5, and made significant errors as wicketkeeper during the tour. He has a high score of 36 in his past 12 international innings – though he had been in better form before he broke his hand in a domestic match late last year.
Squad Upul Tharanga (capt), Niroshan Dickwella, Asela Gunaratna, Dilshan Munaweera, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Sachith Pathirana, Chamara Kapugedara, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara, Isuru Udana, Dasun Shanaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga, Vikum Sanjaya
More to follow…
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo