Fast bowler Lasith Malinga who retired from ODI cricket during the Bangladesh series will continue to lead Sri Lanka in T20 Internationals after being retained as captain for the three-match series against New Zealand starting at Pallekele on September 1.
Malinga’s appointed however according to chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel is only for this series.
“We will see how he fares as captain and as a player and take it series by series,” said De Mel.
In the meantime wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella has been named Malinga’s deputy and his appointment looks like a long term one to succeed Malinga with the World T20 in mind in Australia next year.
Dickwella was left out of the recently concluded 2019 Cricket World Cup on the grounds of poor form but after a successful tour of India with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team where he scored centuries in the unofficial test and ODI series, finds himself once again in favour.
Everything depends on whether 35-year-old Malinga will be able to maintain his fitness and form until the next World T20, which he had stated will be his final series before he retires from all international cricket.
Missing from the squad of 15 are experienced stars like Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva.
The most notable absentee is Thisara Perera whose focus is not in playing for his country but elsewhere. He was recently playing in a private T20 cricket tournament in Canada.
Also Perera’s contribution with bat and ball in white ball cricket in recent times has not been that great.
De Mel stated that these three players are in the T20 squad of 24 named for the World T20 and will be rotated series by series.
“We have 19 T20 internationals before the World T20 and we would like to give exposure to some of the younger players as well by making use of these matches,” said de Mel.
“We have three T20 Internationals in Pakistan next month and then three more in Australia next year. We will be trying out players from the 24-member squad with each series so that approaching the World T20 we will have an idea of what our final 16 would be,” he said.
De Mel said that they have set a benchmark for both batsmen and bowlers. A batsman he said was expected to have an average strike rate of 130-140 runs per 100 balls and bowlers and average of seven and a half runs an over.