Chanaka Fonseka
All-rounder Thisara Perera who at the beginning of the year joined the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army as a Major has been recalled to the Sri Lanka cricket squad of 20 named for the One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) series against West Indies starting later this month.
The West Indies ODI cricket team led by hard hitting all-rounder Kieron Pollard arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday for a series of 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is.
Apart from Perera’s recall there are no major changes to the squad named for the two formats.
Malinga whose leadership has been under scrutiny has been given another opportunity to redeem himself as a player and a captain. He had a poor series in India where he failed in both areas and the chief selector and head coach it is learnt has spoken to him and told him that he must pull up his socks at training and improve his leadership and performances at matches.
Squad (pending Sports Minister’s approval): Dimuth Karunaratne, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajith.