IND vs SL 2017: Malinga, Chandimal Set To Be Overlooked For Limited-Overs Series
Sri Lanka will reportedly not include veteran pacer Lasith Malinga and Test captain Dinesh Chandimal in the squads for the upcoming limited-overs series against India. According to Cricbuzz, Asela Gunaratne and Nuwan Pradeep are in line to return to the team that will be announced on Tuesday (December 5).
Malinga, who has struggled to perform well since his return, was also overlooked for the ODI series against Pakistan and had pulled out of the subsequent T20I series due to security reasons. The pacer has looked like a pale shadow of his former self since returning after a 19-month ODI layoff during the Champions Trophy. The 34-year old has managed to pick up just ten wickets in 13 games at a paltry average of 62.30 since his comeback including the poor series against India where he took only three wickets in as many games.
Even in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, the right-arm pacer has struggled to deliver as per expectations. Playing for Rangpur Riders, he has picked up just six wickets at an economy of over eight runs per over and an average of over 36 in seven games.
Chandimal is also set to face the same fate despite a good outing in the ongoing Test series. The Test captain has scored two half-centuries and a fighting century but he too is reportedly in line to get dropped. The right-handed batsman had a forgettable outing in the five-ODI series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates which Sri Lanka had lost 5-0. Chandimal had registered scores of 4, 2, 19, 16 and 0 in the five games.
Meanwhile, Gunaratne, who has been out of international action since injuring his fthumb in the first Test against India at home in July this year, is likely to be named in the squad. Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made his debut in the Pakistan series, is also likely to retain his place despite flopping in UAE. Pradeep is also set to be recalled to the ODI team. The fast-bowler last played an ODI in the home series against Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, the Islanders will be led by Thisara Perera in the limited-overs series. The ODI series will get underway on December 10 in Dharamsala. The three-match ODI series will be followed by as many T20Is.
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