No Malinga, no Lakmal for T20 series
Sri Lanka have announced their T20 squad for the upcoming series against India and some big names have been given a miss. Veteran pacer, Lasith Malinga, has been dropped from the squad for the three match series commencing on the 20th of December. Suranga Lakmal, who has performed exceptionally well in India in this tour, has also been axed.
T20 expert Malinga, who last featured in the Bangladesh Premier League, has been dropped without any justification by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara. This is the second successive series for which the veteran pacer has been dropped. Malinga last played in the lone T20 against India last July and was dropped for the series against Pakistan in the UAE.
Malinga's omission from the squad may be an indication that his career for the Islanders is coming to a close. He had made his debut for his country 13 years ago. Sri Lanka is looking at a younger crop to replace him. The T20 specialist is best known for his pinpoint yorkers and his ability to rattle even the best bastmen in international cricket.
Thisara Perera (captain), Upul Tharanga Angelo Mathews Kusal 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.
Senior cricketers Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Thirimanne have been rested with Vishwa Fernando and Dasun Shanaka coming as replacements. The fifteen member team, led by Thisara Perera will play their first fixture at Cuttack on December 20 and will then travel to Indore and Mumbai on December 22nd and 24th respectively.
