Angelo appointed captain till 2015 World Cup

Thirimanne new vice-captain for all three formats

A new Partnership. Angelo Mathews, on right, and Lahiru Thirimanne have been appointed as captain and vice-captain respectively in Test and ODI cricket till March 2015.

The cricket national selection panel yesterday recognized Lahiru Thirimanne as a possible long term Sri Lanka captain when they announced him as the vice-captain of Test, ODI and T-20 teams. Thirimanne has done well in ODI and T-20 cricket in recent months.

Chandimal, who was appointed as the country’s T-20 captain and vice-captain of ODI and Test sides, has been relieved of leadership duties due to poor form. Chandimal, one of the best young talents to emerge in recent years will now have an opportunity to completely concentrate on his batting.

Angelo Mathews’ impressive leadership and consistent batting in all formats of the game has seen him being appointed as captain of Test and ODI sides till the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in March next year.

After winning the World T-20, Lasith Malinga has been retained as Sri Lanka’s T-20 captain, also till March 2015.

The selectors also announced the squads for two ODIs in Ireland and one off T-20 International in England. Senior players Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Lasith Malinga, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath were left out of the ODIs in Ireland as Kithruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Niroshan Dickwella and Chathuranga de Silva were named in the squad.

After the brief Ireland tour, Sri Lanka will play five ODIs against England and the senior players who were left out of the two-match series against the Irish are expected to return to the side.

Sri Lanka will be playing two ODIs in Dublin, Ireland on May 6 and 8 and then play a one-off T20 in London on May 20.

Sri Lanka will also play two Tests in England, with Lord’s in London and Leeds in Headingly hosting the two games.

Sri Lanka ODI Squad for Ireland:

Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne (Vice-Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Kithruwan Vithanage, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Dhammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella.

Sri Lanka T-20 Squad:

Lasith Malinga (Captain), Lahiru Thirimanne (Vice-Captain), Kusal Perera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chathuranga de Silva, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna and Ajantha Mendis.

Source: The Island (Sri Lanka)
by Rex Clementine