Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal is all set to return to the cricket field after serving an international ban for breaching the spirit of the game. The 28-year-old cricketer was named in the 15-member squad for the one-off T20 that will round off South Africa's tour of the island nation Tuesday in Colombo.
Cricket Sri Lanka released a statement on Thursday which confirmed his return into the team.
Chandimal missed the two-Test series, which Sri Lanka won, and was also out of the first four one-day internationals against South Africa. The fifth and final match is scheduled to be played on Sunday but he is not included in the squad.
Chandimal was banned by the International Cricket Council along with coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusinha for refusing to take to the field for two hours during the second Test against the West Indies in June. It was shortly after Chandimal was accused of tampering with the ball.
The Sri Lanka captain was subsequently banned from the third Test against the West Indies and given a fine equal to his match fees. He was later banned for another two Tests and four ODIs after pleading guilty to violating the spirit of the game.
Sri Lanka T20 squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan, and Binura Fernando.