Sri Lanka yesterday omitted former T20 captain Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne from the 15-member squad for the five-match ODI series against India.
Veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara has been named in the squad but questions remain over his fitness. If he is declared unfit, Niroshan Dickwella is likely to don the gloves.
The big news, though, has been Chandimal’s exclusion. He has been in and out of the ODI side in recent times and has played just one one-dayer since the tour of England in May.
Thirimanne last played a 50-over game against South Africa in July and thereafter featured in one Test against South Africa and Pakistan.
As far as other members of the team are concerned, spin spearhead Rangana Herath has been given a break while Lasith Malinga is unavailable because of ankle injury.
Off-spinner Suraj Randiv is back in the squad and will lead the spin attack along with leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna and left-armer Chaturanga de Silva.
Medium pacer Lahiru Gamage is the new face in the squad and will share the new ball with Nuwan Kulasekera and Dhammika Prasad.
Sri Lanka are touring India for the series after the Indian board asked them to fill the gap left by West Indies’ decision top pull out of their series midway.
Full squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Ashan Priyanjan, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Lahiru Gamage, Chaturanga de Silva, Seekkuge Prasanna, Suraj Randiv.
