Thursday 18 April 2019 12:21, UK
Sri Lanka have left out former captains Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga from their 15-man ICC Cricket World Cup squad, announced on Thursday.
Chandimal was Sri Lanka's one-day international captain as recently as October, while Tharanga led the side in 2017.
Regular wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella has also been axed, as has opener Danushka Gunathilaka, but Lahiru Thirimanne, who last played in the format in 2017, has been drafted in.
Sri Lanka have again named a new skipper for the tournament that begins on May 30, with Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne set to lead the side despite not playing an ODI since the 2015 tournament.
The selectors have continued on that note by bringing back Jeevan Mendis, who last played in the format at the World Cup four years back in Australia and New Zealand. Milinda Siriwardana and Jeffrey Vandersay also last played ODIs in October 2017.
Veteran pace bowler Lasith Malinga led Sri Lanka in a 5-0 thrashing in their most recent ODI series, against South Africa, and is relieved of captaincy duties, though he does keep his place in the squad alongside injury-prone paceman Nuwan Pradeep.
Vandersay has been picked over mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya as the only specialist slow bowler in the 15, while former captain Angelo Mathews - who has missed a lot of cricket recently due to injury - is part of the squad.
Sri Lanka open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 1 in Cardiff.
Sri Lanka squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhanajaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana
