COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Saturday dropped former captain Angelo Mathews and all-rounder Thisara Perera from the national Twenty20 squad for the three-match series against New Zealand.

Veteran paceman Lasith Malinga has been retained captain in the shortest format with Sri Lanka Cricket naming a 15-man squad for the series starting Sept 1 in Pallekele.

Mathews and Perera, both aged 30, have been left out of the team that has Niroshan Dickwella as vice-captain. Perera played his last T20 against South Africa in March in Johannesburg.

Mathews last featured in a Twenty20 International in Colombo against the visiting Proteas side last year.

Spin bowler Akila Dananjaya, who has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action, was also named in the T20 squad.

Squad: Lasith Malinga (captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Madushanka.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2019