Sri Lanka vs South Africa 2018: Dinesh Chandimal Included in T20I Squad

Sri Lanka has included their Test skipper, Dinesh Chandimal for the one-off T20I against South Africa at R. Premadasa Stadium on August 14 (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, Dinesh Chandimal missed the ODI series against South Africa following the six-match ban regarding ball-tampering. However, the selectors decided to pick him in the 15-member squad, despite his moderate record in the format.

Left-arm seamer Binura Fernando, who last featured in two T20Is in 2015, has also returned to the squad. While Suranga Lakmal has made way for Binura, the selectors have included Shehan Madushanka in place of Niroshan Dickwella. Angelo Mathews will lead this side against a top-notch Proteas team.

Interestingly, legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who came home on disciplinary grounds during the Windies tour in June this year, has returned to the side. Dimuth Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Dickwella and Kasun Rajitha are the standbys.

With some of the players named in both the T20I squad and the One-Day squad to face the South African Emerging team, SLC pointed out that the ones not picked in the final XI will remain with the Emerging Squad.

However, Lasith Malinga has once again failed to find a place in the side. His heroics in the recently concluded Global T20 League wasn’t enough to get him a nod. Meanwhile, Malinga still harbours hopes of playing for his country.

Dhananjaya de Silva also returns to the T20I squad, having played last in 2017. A string of impressive performances against South Africa has put him back into the team.

Sri Lanka Squad

Angelo Mathews (c), Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan, Binura Fernando.