Sri Lanka name T20I squad to face the Proteas

Sri Lanka have named their squad for the upcoming three-match Twenty20 International series against South Africa.

Leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay whose last T20I appearance came in the 2016 ICC World T20, has been recalled, with Test stalwart Suranga Lakmal making a return to the T20I set-up as well.

Lakmal featured in Sri Lanka’s Test series victory over the Proteas but has taken no part in the ODI series. He made his T20I debut in 2011 but has played only 10 T20Is, returning seven wickets for his trouble.

Former Skipper Dinesh Chandimal remains in the international wilderness while Priyamal Perera – who returned a first ball duck in his ODI debut at St George’s Park on Wednesday – has been included in the 16-man squad. There is also no room for Angelo Mathews, who like Chandimal has been made to pay for the team’s abject form over the last two seasons.

Mirroring the ODI squad the T20I group will be led by veteran swing bowler Lasith Malinga while Akila Dananjaya will be playing his first T20I cricket since returning from a suspension from bowling.

Sri Lanka trail the Proteas 4-0 in the five-match ODI series, with the final ODI to be played on 16 March at Newlands.

The first T20I will be played on 19 March at the same venue in Cape Town.

Sri Lanka squad
Lasith Malinga (c), Niroshan Dickwella, 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, Lakshan Sandakan.