Lasith Malinga returns for Asia Cup 2018

The injury-prone 35-year-old last represented his country in September last year against India in Colombo after which he was largely ignored.

Veteran Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga has been included in the ODI squad after a year as the board announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup tournament on Saturday.

The injury-prone 35-year-old last represented his country in September last year against India in Colombo after which he was largely ignored.

However, the official sources said he had impressed selectors during an ongoing domestic T20 series and has now been included in the one-day squad for the Asia Cup tournament opening in the United Arab Emirates in two weeks.

Here’s the squad:

Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Dhanajaya de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Dilruwan Perera, Amila Aponso, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Lasith Malinga.

The Angelo Mathews led Lankan side will be missing their regular wicketkeeper and opener Nisroshan Dickwella. In his absence, either of Kusal Perera or Dinesh Chandimal will get the responsibility to keep the wickets.

Apart from Dickwella, speedster Lahiru Kumara and left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan have also been omitted from squad alongside batsman Shehan Jayasuriya.

All the four cricketers were part of the Sri Lanka ODI squad for the recently concluded South Africa series.

In the 5-match series against the Proteas, Dickwella managed to go past the fifty run-mark only once and managed to score 158 runs at an average of 31.60. Sandakan played just one match of the series claiming one for 74 in his eight overs as South Africa beat Sri Lanka 3-2 in the series.

Sri Lanka is scheduled to kickstart the tournament on September 15 where they will face Bangladesh in the opener at the Dubai International Stadium.