Thisara Perera leads T20 side

All-rounder Thisara Perera has been named as Sri Lanka skipper for the one-off T20 against England. The match will be played on October 27 at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Perera captained Sri Lanka in a three-match T20 series against Pakistan late last year which included a historic visit to Lahore—the first since the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team bus on 2009. 

Back in the side is young Kamidu Mendis who bowls from both arms. A useful batting allrounder Mendis captained Sri Lanka at the last U-19 world cup and considered a bright prospect for Sri Lanka.

There was no place for Angelo Mathews who was stripped of captaincy and dropped from the ODIs against England after Sri Lanka’s poor showing at the Asia Cup. Upul Tharanga who has struggled for runs in the recent months have has also being axed from the side. Surprising the selectors have retained out-of-form Kusal Mendis in the T20 side that also includes Lasith Malinga.

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Thisara Perera (captain) Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, and Kasun Rajitha