Sri Lanka drop Chandimal, include three uncapped cricketers for South Africa ODIs

Sri Lanka on Monday brought in three uncapped players to its 17-member squad for the five-match One-Day International series against South Africa starting on March 3.

Akila Dananjaya returned to the Sri Lankan side after ICC cleared him of a suspect bowling action as the Sri Lankan Cricket Board announced a 17-member squad for the five-match ODI series in South Africa. The Sri Lankan side includes three uncapped cricketers as the Islanders look for a change of fortunes in limited overs cricket.

Dananjaya was away from cricket for more than two months after being reported for a suspect bowling action during the first Test against England in Galle from 6-10 November, following which he was barred from bowling in international cricket.

The off-spinner’s presence return comes as a major boost for Sri Lanka as he had been one of their main weapons in recent times. He had taken 28 ODI wickets at an average of 23 in 2018, and a further 27 wickets at 24.25 in Tests.

Dananjaya will lead the revamped spin-bowling attack of Sri Lanka which includes ambidextrous spinner Kamindu Menids who bowls off-spin to left-handers and left-arm orthodox to right-handers.

The other two newcomers in the side are right-handed batsman Oshada Fernando and all-rounder Priyamal Perera. Perera made headlines after slamming to double hundreds in a first-class game last month. He also scored more 1000 runs in Sri Lanka's domestic cricket last season. 

The big names to miss out were Dinesh Chandimal, who was surprisingly stripped of the Test captaincy and dropped from the side, allrounders Asela Gunaratne, Dasun Shanaka and Sekkuge Prasanna - who were all part of the squad in Sri Lanka's previous ODI series in New Zealand. 

On the other hand, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana and Angelo Perera returned to the ODI squad after a prolonged break.

The five-match series begins from March 3.

Sri Lanka squad: Lasith Malinga (captain), Niroshan Dikwella (vice captain, Avishka Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Angelo Perera, Oshada Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Isuru Udana, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Lakshan Sandakan.