COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors on Wednesday sacked Dinesh Chandimal as Twenty20 captain and replaced him with Lasith Malinga, while Angelo Mathews was retained as the Test and one-day skipper.

Chandimal, 24, opted out of the last three matches, including the semi-final and final, of the recent World Twenty20 in Bangladesh due to poor batting form, leaving Malinga in charge.

Sri Lanka went on to beat the West Indies in the semi-final and India in the final to win their first major title since 1996 when they bagged the 50-over World Cup.

All-rounder Mathews was retained as the Test and one-day captain till the end of next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a release from Sri Lanka Cricket said.

Lahiru Thirimanne, a 24-year-old left-hand batsman, was promoted to vice-captain in all three formats, the release added.

Sri Lanka have yet to appoint a new coach after Englishman Paul Farbrace resigned on Tuesday to take up a possible assignment with England.

Farbrace, 46, has been linked to the post of assistant coach to Peter Moores, who was named England’s chief coach last week replacing Zimbabwean Andy Flower.

Sri Lanka are due to play two one-day matches against Ireland in Dublin early next month ahead of a tour of England that comprises one T20 International, five One-day Internationals and two Tests.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have included batsmen Kithuruwan Vithanage and Ashan Priyanjan in their 15-man squad for the one-off T20 that kicks off their tour of England next month.

Slow-bowling all-rounder Chaturanga de Silva, who was initially included in the World T20 squad as cover for Rangana Herath, has also been named. Herath has been rested, while the team will be without the veteran pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who both have retired from T20 Internationals after the World T20.

Though uncapped in T20 Internationals, Priyanjan and Vithanage have been included ahead of Angelo Perera, who played for Sri Lanka in February, against Bangladesh. Both aggressive middle-order batsmen, Priyanjan and Vithanage have had encouraging starts to their international careers in other formats. Priyanjan averages 33.33 after seven ODI knocks and Vithanage has scored at 69.66 in four Test innings — all against Bangladesh. Priyanjan also bowls part-time off-spin.

Chandimal, however, was retained in both squads.

Five seniors — Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Herath, Malinga and Tillakaratne Dilshan — have all also been rested for the Ireland leg of Sri Lanka’s tour.

Opener Upul Tharanga, 20-year-old wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella, and fast bowler Dhammika Prasad are in that squad, after encouraging performances for Sri Lanka ‘A’ and in domestic cricket.

Sri Lanka play Ireland on May 6 and May 8 before going to England.

The selectors are expected to name the ODI and Test squads for the England tour over the next few days.

Squads: For England T20: Lasith Malinga (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne (vice-captain), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis.

For Ireland ODIs: Mathews (captain), Thirimanne (vice-captain), Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Chandimal, Vithanage, Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Kulasekara, de Silva, Senanayake, Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Mendis.

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan turbulence
Updated 19 Mar, 2024

Afghan turbulence

RELATIONS between the newly formed government and Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban rulers have begun on an...
In disarray
19 Mar, 2024

In disarray

IT is clear that there is some bad blood within the PTI’s ranks. Ever since the PTI lost a key battle over ...
Festering wound
19 Mar, 2024

Festering wound

PROTESTS unfolded once more in Gwadar, this time against the alleged enforced disappearances of two young men, who...
Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...