Malinga leads T20 side, Angelo, Thisara, Chandimal dropped
View(s):Lasith Malinga has been retained captain of the T20 side for the three-match T20 series but the selectors have caused astonishment by dropping in-form Angelo Mathews.
Also missing from the squad are T20 specialist Thisara Perera, who had an ugly public spat with Malinga, and Dinesh Chandimal, the former captain who is going through a bad spell in his career.
Malinga’s appointment, however, is interesting. Ahead of the World Cup in England, he was sacked as ODI skipper as selectors wanted “someone who can get the team together” following several high profile personality clashes in the team. But they now feel the 36-year-old T20 pro could unite a new look team.
Asked whether it’s a long term appoint extending to next year’s World T20 Championship in Australia, Chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel said, “No”.
“The appointment is only for the New Zealand series,” he said. Malinga, who retired from ODI cricket during the home series against Bangladesh last month, will continue to play the shortest format at least till the 2020 world tournament.
Mathews’ omission is surprising given that the former skipper has been in fine form since his match-winning unbeaten 85 against England at the World Cup. But selectors believe his game and approach does not suit the fast-paced game any longer. Besides, Mathews plays purely as a batsman due to injury concerns.
“I had a discussion with him and I told him why we have not selected him for the series,” de Mel said, explaining their decision to drop Mathews. “If he was bowling, it’s a different story altogether. But right now, we need to try out some new players. This doesn’t mean we have shut the door on him completely. He told me he will start bowling soon and, if he can do that, he can come back to the side.”
Following a series of hamstring and calf injuries, the former all-rounder has stopped bowling at least temporarily to prolong his career. But the 32-year-old is now ready to resume. With 1055 runs, he is the fourth highest T20I run scorer behind T M Dilshan (1889), Mahela Jayawardena (1493) and Kumar Sangakkara (1382).
Thisara Perera, on the other hand, a veteran of 79 T20 internationals, hasn’t lived up to his immense potential. His exclusion was expected, given the inconsistent performance in recent ODIs. Chandimal, who last played a T20 international in October 2018, has been through a rough patch across formats. After being snubbed for the World Cup, Chandimal represented Montreal Tigers in the Canadian T20 league but made little impact to warrant a place in the side which he captained sometime back.
While Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Lahiru Kumara have come back to the side, the selectors have also brought in uncapped all-rounders Wanindu Harasanga and Lahiru Madushanka . Niroshan Dickwella has been appointed as vice-captain.
Meanwhile the selectors have also retained spinner Akila Dananjaya in the side despite the fact he is facing a possible one-year sanction from cricket after being called for a suspect bowling action for the second time in a year.
Dananjaya had undergone remedial work since his initial suspension, announced in December 2018, and had his action cleared early this year. He will have his action tested once again in Channai and if the results show an elbow extension of over 15 degrees, he will be suspended for one year.
The Squad
Lasith Malinga – Captain, Niroshan Dickwella – Vice Captain, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Madushanka.