Chandimal back in the fray for white-ball cricket

Monday, 23 August 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Named in 30-man squad for SA series and T20 WC

Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has won the confidence of the national selectors to be included in the 30-man squad named for next month’s white-ball ODI and T20I series against South

Dinesh Chandimal

Africa and for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Chandimal was one of four senior players left out of white-ball cricket by the selectors for the last three series against Bangladesh, England and India. He has since written to Sri Lanka Cricket, the Selection Committee and the Technical Advisory Committee seeking clarification of his future as a cricketer.

Consequently, he was included in the ongoing Dialog SLC Invitational T20 League and made captain of one of the four sides – SLC Reds for whom he has scored back to back half-centuries in his last two matches, thus making a statement to the national selectors. He was also one of 18 players who signed the much-disputed player contract last week.

Also included is another former captain Kusal Perera, who missed the Indian and the Dialog SLC Invitational T20 League as he is recovering from a shoulder injury, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is struggling to be fit with a fractured thumb.

Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Pulina Tharanga and Sahan Arachchige are among some of the new faces who have performed well in the current Invitational T20 League that have been selected.

30-man Sri Lanka Squad for South Africa series and T20 World Cup: Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Minod Bhanuka, Dinesh Chandimal, Ashen Bandara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Sahan Arachchige, Lahiru Madushanka (subject to fitness), Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Mahesh Theekshana, Pulina Tharanga, Ramesh Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando, Ishan Jayaratne, Dananjaya Lakshan, and Shiran Fernando. (ST)