Sri Lanka has dropped out-of-form Lasith Malinga for their upcoming five-match series against Pakistan; the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced on Wednesday (October 4).
The veteran fast-bowler 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, who had also led Sri Lanka in one of the games during the ODI series against India, had 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.
Another big absentee from the 15-man squad is former skipper Angelo Mathews who has not recovered from the calf-injury yet which has also made him miss the ongoing two-Test series. Mathews had stepped down from the post earlier this year following the shocking ODI series loss against Zimbabwe. He returned to the team during the Champions Trophy after being on the sidelines for six months due to the calf injury he suffered at the start of the year during the series in South Africa.
The ace all-rounder has a chronic calf injury (right leg) which the doctors have said is incurable. Meanwhile, opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka, who has averaged an impressive 42.41 in 12 ODIs this year, has been surprisingly left out of the squad. On the other hand, Test captain, Dinesh Chandimal, who was initially not in the squad for India ODIs, has been named in the team while Chamara Kapugedara got retained.
Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who has not played since February, has also been recalled.
Sri Lanka squad for Pakistan ODIs:
Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay.