Thisara Perera appointed as SL T20I captain for Pakistan series

He will become the ninth captain for Sri Lanka in the shortest format of the game. He has so far 42 T20Is.

Situation changed after the World XI series in September, in which Pakistan Cricket Board ensured safety of the all the cricketers.

The 18-year-old all rounder Perera was also a part of the touring World XI side and played an important role in winning the 2nd T20I.

However, it is still not clear whether Tharanga will make to the squad of 15 or not.

It all started when as many as 40 centrally contracted Sri Lanka cricketers signed a petition depicting their unwillingness in traveling to Pakistan for the third and final T20I.

The players were in favour of a change in venue as it was the Sri Lankan team bus that became a subject to a deadly terror attack in 2009. Since then barring Zimbabwe, no side has toured Pakistan.

The SLC, since then has been able to convince 15 among 40 of those cricketers to travel to Pakistan and Perera was the most prominent one among them.

The decision came after regular captain Upul Tharanga pulled out from the third T20I slated to be played in Lahore.

The decision to name Perera the captain also means Tharanga will not lead Sri Lanka even in the first two matches in UAE.

Taking a strong stance on its cricketing ties with Pakistan, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has named all-rounder Thisara Perera the captain for the upcoming three-match T20I series against its neighbours.