Sri Lanka announce squad for Asia Cup and World T20 2016

The Sri Lankan Cricket Board today announced the Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 and the World T20 2016 that follows the tournament. Like all the teams, they have picked the same squad for both events.

The selectors have continued their faith on fast-bowler Lasith Malinga who is also the most experienced player in the squad to lead them in their title defense campaign. It was under Malinga that Sri Lanka beat India in the final and lifted the ICC World T20 2014 trophy. All-rounder Angelo Mathews will assist Malinga as the vice-captain of the squad.

Sri Lanka is the last team to announce the squad since it had more than a few fitness concerns of key players like Malinga, Mathew and Nuwan Kulasekera. Earlier this month they had sent in a second string squad to India for a 3-match T20I series which they lost 2-1. Debutant Kasun Rajitha who impressed one and all with his figures of 4-0-29-3 that left the Indian side rattled and eventually helped Sri Lanka win the match was ignored by the selectors.

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake and Jeffrey Vandersay will hold the spin bowling department together while the pace bowling attack led by Malinga and Mathews features Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera and Thisara Perera.

Inclusions: Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Rangana Herath

Exclusions: Dilhara Fernando, Seekuge Prasanna, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Binura Fernando

Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup and World T20 2016:

Lasith Malinga (Captain), Angelo Mathews (Vice Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay