Malinga to play under Mathews' captaincy in SLC T20 League
Lasith Malinga © Getty Images
Squads have been confirmed for the upcoming SLC T20 League, which is going to be staged in place of a franchise-based T20 competition (Lankan Premier League) that the Sri Lanka Cricket once aspired to organize. The newly-arranged four-team tournament will start on August 21.
The islanders’ chances of having their own cash-rich T20 league was jeopardized by a recent change in authority of the country’s cricket board.
Sri Lanka Cricket had organized another 20-over tournament similar to the SLC T20 League earlier this year, where a total of 23 teams had participated. The SLC T20 Tournament, a 23-team competition, too, had no overseas players in it and the matches were used for preparation ahead of the Nidahas Trophy.
Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, and Suranga Lakmal have been selected to lead Colombo, Kandy, Dambulla, and Galle respectively, while Sri Lanka’s former World T20-winning skipper Lasith Malinga has not been given any captaincy role on the SLC T20 League. The seamer will play for Kandy, under the stewardship of current national team limited-over captain, Mathews.
The future of Malinga’s international career is still uncertain as the Sri Lanka head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, has recently stressed the importance of protecting the “team culture” by considering only those players, who regularly appear in domestic matches, for the national team.
Malinga had missed the provincial one-day tournament of his country in order to mentor the Mumbai Indians in the IPL earlier this year. He hasn't made any internatioal appearance since September last year. The 34-year-old has been left out of the 31-member Sri Lanka squad for Asia Cup as well.
Following the end of the SLC T20 League on September 2, the Sri Lanka national team will travel to the UAE to play in the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka preliminary squad for Asia Cup
Thisara Perera, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sadakan, Nishan Peiris, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Jehan Daniel, Shammu Ashan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne.
SLC T20 League squads
Colombo – Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Upul Tharanga (Vice Captain), Mahela Udawatte, Akila Dananjaya, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chathuranga De Silva, Shammu Ashan, Sachithra Serasinghe, Avishka Fernando, Priyamal Perera, Jeewan Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Lasith Abeyrathne, Nuwan Pradeep, Asitha Fernando, Vishva Chathuranga, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Madushanka, Ashen Bandara, Thisaru Rashmika Dilshan, Nimsara Attanagalle.
Kandy – Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kusal Janith Perera (Vice Captain), Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Charith Asalanka, Malinda Pushpakumara, Sandun Weerakkody, Lahiru Gamage, Thikshila De Silva, Vishwa Fernando, Sachith Pathirana, Nipun Ransika, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Janith Chathuranga De Silva, Nisala Tharaka, Chamika Karunarathne, Kavishka Anjula, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Janaka Sampath.
Dambulla – Thisara Perera (Captain), Dilruwan Perera (Vice-Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Lakshan Sandakan, Amila Aponso, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramith Rambukwella, Isuru Udana, Vikum Sanjaya, Minod Bhanuka, Ruvindu Gunasekara, Ramesh Mendis, Binura Fernando, Kevin Koththigoda, Shehan Madushanka, Dilesh Gunarathne, Irosh Samarasuriya, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nipun Karunanayake.
Galle – Suranga Lakmal (Captain), Dimuth Karunarathne (Vice Captain), Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Jefferey Vandersay, Dhananjaya De Silva, Asela Gunarathne, Angelo Perera, Lahiru Milantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Kasun Rajitha, Vimukthi Perera, Nishan Madushka, Jehan Daniel, Mohommad Dilshad, Sahan Arachchige, Oshada Fernando, Kasun Madushanka.
