Malinga ignored for one-off T20I against Proteas

Colombo [Sri Lanka], Aug 9 (ANI): Veteran Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga has been left out of the 15-member T20I squad for the one-off match against South Africa slated to be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on August 14.

Despite Malinga's rich vein of form in the Global T20 League in Toronto, he could not find a place in the squad. The 34-year-old pacer has been in and out of the Sri Lankan team lately, owing to poor form and injury woes, ESPNcricinfo reported.

In the Global T20 League in Canada, Malinga was the third highest wicket-taker besides having the best average and economy rate among all bowlers in the tournament with over five wickets. He last played in a one-off T20I match against India in September last year.

The veteran pacer, who already bid adieu to Tests in 2011, said in February that he was considering retirement as he was "mentally done with international cricket."

Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Binura Fernando can be given an opportunity to play his first game, more than three years after he was first called up. He appeared in two T20Is against Pakistan in 2015 but did not get any chance since then.

Young all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who played his last T20I game in January last year, has been recalled in the national squad, owing to his outstanding contributions to the team in the Tests and the ongoing ODI series against South Africa.

Former Sri Lankan captain and veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews also returned to the T20I side after missing the home tri-series earlier this year due to a hamstring injury. The tri-series also included India and Bangladesh.

The full Sri Lanka T20I squad is as follows:

Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Akila Dananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Binura Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Shehan Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera (wicketkeeper), Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Dasun Shanaka, Upul Tharanga, Jeffrey Vandersay. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI