Malinga left out for India T20s

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket has left out premier fast bowler Lasith Malinga from the upcoming three-match T20 International series against India.

Malinga (34), the former Sri Lanka T20I captain, was sidelined for almost a year with a knee injury that he picked up ahead of the World T20 in India before making a comeback in February this year.

Malinga was axed from the ODI squad for Sri Lanka’s tour of UAE in October and wasn’t considered for the three-match T20I series after his reluctance to travel to Lahore for the last game of the series.

The fast bowler has struggled with fitness and his pace dropped significantly, although his returns in T20 cricket weren’t too bad in 2017 having claimed 12 wickets in six games. His returns in ODI cricket, however, have been disappointing with only 10 wickets in 13 games at an average of 62.

A media release from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said that Malinga has been rested, but it is learnt that the board is keen to move on taking a look at younger players.

Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando were named as the three fast bowlers and they will be backed up by all-rounders Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka. Perera will lead the side.

There were only three changes from the 16-member ODI squad that is currently in India. Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal has been rested while top order batsmen Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhananjaya de Silva were left out. All-rounder Dasun Shanaka and fast bowler Vishwa Fernando have been brought in for the T20I series.

Several players named in the T20I squad weren’t part of the squad that featured in the last series against Pakistan. They were ineligible for selection after their reluctance to travel to Lahore for the final T20I. The first game of the upcoming series will take place in Cuttack on the 20th December with the last game taking place in Mumbai on the eve of Christmas.

Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Thisara Perera (C) Upul Tharanga, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Asela Gunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando.