Published: Jan 28, 2016, 04:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 28, 2016, 04:20 PM (IST)
Dilhara Fernando makes a comeback for the first time in more than three and a half years as announced Sri Lanka their squad for the upcoming Twenty20 International (T20I) series against India which is set to begin on February 9. Sri Lanka will be without a majority of their main international stars, with the likes of T20I captain Lasith Malinga, Test and One-Day International (ODI) skipper Angelo Mathews, leading off-spinner Rangana Herath and pacer Nuwan Pradeep set to miss out on the upcoming series due to injuries. Sri Lanka will play India in a three-match series on February 9, 12 and 14 and will be hosted at Pune, Delhi and Vishakhapatnam respectively. READ: Schedule and venues for India vs Sri Lanka 2016, 3 T20I series announced
Fernando, who made his debut for Sri Lanka in 2000, was a frontline pacer for Sri Lanka during the first half of the previous decade, and has a tally of 287 international wickets from 40 Tests, 147 ODIs and 17 T20Is respectively. Fernando’s last international outing was against Pakistan on home soil in mid-2012. Also making a comeback into the side will be leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna.
Mathews is currently recovering from a groin injury, while Herath and Pradeep have been afflicted with a pulled side muscle as well as a hamstring injury. Malinga will require at least a week before he can recover from his knee injury that kept him out of the tour of New Zealand. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have given a hint of finalising a provisional squad for the ICC World T20 before February 1, which is expected to be the same as that for the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad for the India T20 series: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Seekuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chamara Kapugedera, Chameera Dushmantha, Dilhara Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Binura Fernando, Sachithra Senanayake and Jeffrey Vandersay.
(With inputs from AFP)
