Mathews ruled out of Nidahas Trophy

Dinesh Chandimal has retained the captaincy for the Nidahas Trophy Tri-nation tournament starting next week after regular skipper Angelo Mathews was ruled out due to injury.

Mathews was reappointed captain of the national limited-over sides in January, just six months after he resigned from the same. However, he sustained an injury during the ODI Tri-series in Bangladesh and played no further part in the series. He was however expected to be ready for the Nidahas Trophy in March. Mathews' career has been plagued by injuries during the last 18 months with leg injuries--hamstring and calf-- ruling him out for most of Sri Lanka's international assignments during that period.

"Angelo Mathews was not considered for selection, as he is still recovering from the injury, he suffered during the concluded Tri-Nation Series in Bangladesh,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

The national selectors announced a 20-man team today for the Tri-series which is expected to be pruned down to 15 on Wednesday. Chandimal successfully led Sri Lanka during the two-match T20 series against Bangladesh early this month.

Kusal Janith  Perera who also injured during the Bangladesh series has however made it to the side. There was no place for Lasith Malinga in the side despite making a decent come back in the ongoing domestic T20 series.

The Tri-nation T20 series includes hosts Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh. All the matches will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from March 6-18.

20-man squad:

Dinesh Chandimal – Captain, Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Jeewan Mendis, Suranga Lakmal, Niroshan Dickwella, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya, Amila Aponso, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera,Dananjaya De Silva