ICC World Cup 2019: SLC announces the 15-man squad for the tournament The board has also named four reserve players who will travel with the team. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has finally announced its 15-man squad for the World Cup with a completely new captain in Dimuth Karunaratne out of nowhere. The appointment was made public on Wednesday and the selectors met the skipper on Thursday to finalise the team. The big names to miss out are the former captain Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella who were the part of the team frequently since the 2015 World Cup. However, Angelo Mathews, the veteran, has returned after a long haul thanks to his injury issues. He last played in coloured clothing for his country in the Asia Cup on September 17. Apart from Mathews, Lahiru Thirmanne, Avishka Fernando and Jeevan Mendis has also made it to the squad. Lasith Malinga, whose retirement news surfaced only recently, has also been included. SLC name four reserves as well Kusal Perera will take up the role of wicket-keeper it seems now with Dickwella being dropped from the squad. Isuru Udana has been rewarded for his exceptional all-round skills in the recent South Africa tour. Meanwhile, the selectors have also named Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga and Angelo Perera as the backup players. Oshada Fernando had impressed one and all with his technique during the Test series against South Africa. Kasun Rajitha is an out an out pace bowler and can swing the ball a fair way while Angelo Perera is also a decent batsman when it comes to tackling the tricky conditions. Here’s Sri Lanka’s 15-man squad for World Cup: D Karunaratne, Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardena. Reserves: Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Perera. [interaction id=”5cb5c266b712a3168eb0194d”]<doc-sep>In the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka begins its campaign on June 1, 2019, against New Zealand at Cardiff Wales Stadium. Sri Lanka started participating in World Cup in 1975. Under the captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka won the title in 1996. Sri Lanka entered semifinals in 2003 and made it to the quarterfinals in 2015. In the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka begins its campaign against New Zealand on June 1, 2019 at Cardiff Wales Stadium. Sri Lanka World Cup record Played - 73 Won - 35 Lost - 35 Tied/No Result - 3 Win percentage - 50.00% Captain Dimuth Karunaratne Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe The 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. The fixture June 1 (Saturday): New Zealand vs Sri Lanka - Cardiff Wales Stadium - 3 p.m. June 4 (Tuesday): Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka - Cardiff - 3 p.m. June 7 (Friday): Pakistan vs Sri Lanka - Bristol - 3 p.m. June 11 (Tuesday): Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka - Bristol - 3 p.m. June 15 (Saturday): Sri Lanka vs Australia - The Oval - 3 p.m. June 21 (Friday): England vs Sri Lanka - Headingley - 3 p.m. June 28 (Friday): Sri Lanka vs South Africa - Durham - 3 p.m. July 1 (Monday): Sri Lanka vs West Indies - Durham - 3 p.m. July 6 (Saturday): Sri Lanka vs India - Leeds - 3 p.m. Click here for the full schedule<doc-sep>Sri Lanka have announced their 15-member squad that will take part in the ICC World Cup 2019 which is scheduled to take place in UK, starting May 30. In a surprise move opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne was on Wednesday named captain of the Sri Lanka ODI team. He will lead the team during the ICC World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales from May 30. “The National Selectors today appointed Dimuth Karunaratne as the ODI Captain of the Sri Lankan team. He will lead the team during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Karunaratne’s appointment was ratified by the Minister of Telecommunications, Foreign Employment and Sports Honorable Harin Fernando,” Sri Lanka Cricket said through a media release. Also Read: Dimuth Karunaratne to lead Sri Lanka in showpiece event The left-handed opener last played an ODI for Sri Lanka way back in the 2015 edition of the ICC World Cup. He has played 17 ODIs in his career and averages a meagre 15.83. The southpaw though has a decent List A career with an average 34.34 from 120 games, including six centuries. The left-hander has made waves in Test cricket in recent times, earning selection in the ICC’s Test Team of the Year 2018, and captained Sri Lanka to a historic Test series whitewash in South Africa earlier this year, standing in for Dinesh Chandimal. Sri Lanka have named their #CWC19 squad! 🇱🇰 pic.twitter.com/TPXM4zNVwH — Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) April 18, 2019 Sri Lanka’s ODI captaincy has exchanged hands frequently in recent months. Their last four series have seen them cycle through three different skippers, with all of Angelo Mathews, Chandimal, and Lasith Malinga having been at the helm at some point. Also Read: Fast-tracked Jofra Archer targets England backup role for World Cup Karunaratne was fined and reprimanded recently by Sri Lanka Cricket after a drink-driving incident, for which he also had his driving licence suspended. Sri Lanka are yet to announce their World Cup preliminary squad. 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 ((With ICC Inputs))<doc-sep>
Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was not included in the squad. (Source: File) Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was not included in the squad. (Source: File) Sri Lanka Cricket team announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming World Cup tournament on Thursday. The team will enter the tournament with Dimuth Karunaratne as the captain, while Angelo Mathews will enter the tournament as the vice-captain. The biggest surprise exclusion from the team was former captain Dinesh Chandimal, who was leading the side in the 50-overs cricket until October. Apart from the right-handed batsman, regular wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, and offspinner Akila Dananjaya also failed to make it into the team. The opening pair of Danushka Gunathilaka and Upul Tharanga also failed to make it into the team. Instead, SLC decided to go ahead with batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, allrounders Milinda Siriwardana and Jeevan Mendis and leggie Jeffrey Vandersay, despite the four players having not played an ODI for Sri Lanka since at least 2017. Angelo Mathews, on the other hand, was recalled into the side despite missing most of Sri Lanka’s overseas tour last year due to a hamstring strain. The allrounder recently scored 227 runs in four innings, including a ton and a fifty in the Super Provincial One Day tournament in Sri Lanka, which acted as the selection trial tournament for World Cup aspirants. Avishka Fernando, who failed to shine with the bat in the South Africa tour in March, was also picked into the side, along with Nuwan Pradeep, who has not featured regularly for the side partly due to injury. Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Angelo Perera will also travel with the team as four back-up options, to be used in case of an injury. Sri Lanka will begin their campaign against New Zealand on June 1 Sri Lanka will begin their campaign against New Zealand on June 1 Sri Lanka 15-member World Cup Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardena