COLOMBO: Milinda Siriwardana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Jeevan Mendis made remarkable comebacks as Sri Lanka announced their 15-strong squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 on Thursday, 18 April. Siriwardana and Vandersay last played one-day internationals in October 2017, while Jeevan Mendis' previous appearance in the format came in the 2015 World Cup match against Afghanistan. However, many of the regulars, including Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga and Akila Dananjaya, were excluded from the squad altogether, with Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Kasun Rajitha, and Wanindu Hasaranga placed on standby. Final squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeffery Vandersay, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Jeevan Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana<doc-sep>What's the story? Sri Lanka announced the squad for the 2019 World Cup today. They also confirmed that Dimuth Karunaratne will lead the side. In case you didn't know... The ICC's deadline to submit the initial World Cup squad is 22nd April 2019. Each country is slowly announcing its squad one by one. Sri Lanka is the latest to announce their team for the mega event. The heart of the matter The Sri Lankan board yesterday announced that Dimuth Karunaratne, who played the last ODI for Sri Lanka in 2015, will captain the side in the 2019 edition. It was a surprise move from the Lankan board. Angelo Matthews, who missed most of the season, is back in the squad. The team is filled with both experience and youth, with most of them playing their first World Cup. Karunaratne might open the innings with Thirimanne, and Avishka will be the backup opener. Kusal Perera was picked as the wicket-keeper, while the other wicket-keeper batsman Dickwella could not find a place. The board went with Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva despite a poor show in the recent matches. The seaming all-rounder's spot is filled by Isuru Udana, who did well in South Africa, and the veteran Thisara Perera. Both Jeevan Mendis and Milinda Siriwardana were picked as spinning all-rounders for the mega event. When it comes to bowling, they have a relatively experienced attack. Lasith Malinga is set to play his fourth and final World Cup. They also picked Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep, and thus will go with three genuine fast bowlers. Sri Lanka also included a leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay instead of mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya. Squad for the World Cup: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera (wk), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Malinda Siriwardana, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep. Standbys: Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga and Angelo Perera. What's next? Sri Lanka will play their opening World Cup game against New Zeland on 1st June 2019.<doc-sep>Sri Lankan cricket team. Photo: AFP COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Cricket Board on Thursday announced its 15-man squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held in England and Wales from May 30. Sri Lanka is the eighth-ranked ODI team. They will play their first match against New Zealand on June 1 at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Sri Lanka squad for World Cup Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal<doc-sep>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>
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have sprung a number of shocks with their team selection for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, including the omissions of former captain Dinesh Chandimal, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella and off-spinner Akila Dananjaya. The 15-man Sri Lanka squad includes batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, and spin-bowling all-rounders Milinda Siriwardana and Jeevan Mendis, all of whom have recently been out of favour when it comes to ODI selection. Opening batsmen Danushka Gunathilaka and Upul Tharanga were also overlooked by the selectors as Sri Lanka look to reverse their worrying trend in 2019, having lost all eight ODIs they have played. On Wednesday, SLC axed Lasith Malinga as captain and replaced him with Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who has not played an ODI in more than four years. Chairman of selectors Asantha de Mel said they wanted “somebody who can get the team together” at the mega event in England and Wales. Sri Lanka will fine-tune preparations for the World Cup with two ODIs against Scotland, on May 18 and 21 and will follow it up with warm-up fixtures against South Africa and Australia. The 1996 champions begin their title challenge against New Zealand at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on June 1. Sri Lanka’s squad for the World Cup: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Avishka Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Perera (wk), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Malinda Siriwardana, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep. Standbys: Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga and Angelo Perera