Sri Lanka Cricket has announced the 16-man squad for the T20I series against South Africa. Both the teams are currently locking horns in five-match ODI series, in which the hosts are leading by a margin of 4-0. Lasith Malinga will continue to lead the Island nation in the upcoming three-match T20I series.
Meanwhile, Niroshan Dickwella will be the vice-captain of the side for the series. The T20I squad was approved by Honourable Harin Fernando, the Minister of Sports. Avishka Fernando who has played only four One Day Internationals makes the cut into the Sri Lankan squad. Sri Lanka Cricket has given chances to the young generation in the shortest format of the game.
Sri Lanka will like to bounce back in the T20I series.
Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Akila Dananjaya are the familiar faces in the T20I squad. In fact, Sri Lanka had a dream two-match Test series against the Proteas. They had gone on to bamboozle South Africa by 2-0. Kusal Perera had scored a sublime unbeaten knock of 153 runs in the first Test whereas the visitors won the second Test by eight wickets.
However, it has been one-way traffic in the One-Day series as the host lead by a margin of 4-0. Thus, the tourists will like to turn the tables in the T20I series.
The first T20I will take place at Newlands, Cape Town on March 19 after the final ODI which will take place on 16 March at the same venue. The second T20I will take place at Centurion on March 22 whereas the final T20I will be played at Johannesburg on March 24.
Here is the Sri Lankan squad:
Lasith Malinga – Captain, Niroshan Dickwella – Vice Captain, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan.