SURANGA LAKMAL RECALLED FOR SA T20IS
Steve Rixon appointed Acting Head Coach
Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal was included in Sri Lanka’s Squad for the three-t20is against South Africa this month, while there was also a place for leg-spinner Jeffery Vandersay in the 16-member squad announced yesterday.
Lakmal has led the fastbowling attack in Tests, but found his involvement in the white-ball formats to be limited and his inclusion comes as a surprise.
Asitha Fernando, uncapped in the shortest format, joins Captain Lasith Malinga, Lakmal, Isuru Udana and Thisara Perera as the fast bowling options.
Vandersay meanwhile, has returned from an injury he sustained last December, and will challenge Lakshan Sandakan for the second spinner’s slot behind Akila Dananjaya.
Sadeera Samarawickrama has also been recalled, having gone unused in Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand, with Avishka Fernando, Angelo Perera, Kamindu Mendis and Priyamal Perera all retained from the ODI Squad.
HATHURUSINGHA RECALLED
Meanwhile, in a move that could signal the end of his tenure as National Coach, Chandika Hathurusingha has been recalled to Sri Lanka ahead of the T20IS and Steve Rixon has been appointed as the Acting Head Coach.
A media release from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said that Hathurusingha was being asked to return “in order to discuss Sri Lanka Team’s preparation plans for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.”
But he has been under fire since late last year, and given the results in the ODI series against South Africa, removing from the head coaching role seems a real possibility.
Meanwhile, SLC will organise an Inter-provincial Tournament early next month, which will be a yard stick for World Cup selection, a SLC official told the .
“We hope to have four teams and will play the tournament in Dambulla and Pallekele.
SRI LANKA T20I SQUAD:
Lasith Malinga (Captain), Niroshan Dickwella (ViceCaptain), 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 and Lakshan Sandakan.