An unknown schoolboy off spinner called Akila Dhananjaya who failed to make it into the Sri Lanka Under 19 for the forthcoming Under 19 World Cup or the Sri Lanka A Team has stunningly been called up for the Sri Lanka’s 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC World T20 to be held in Sri Lanka in two-months’ time.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) held a Single wicket tournament recently with the specific aim of picking Sri Lanka’s best hard hitters ahead of the World T20 tournament but amazingly the national selectors have not picked promising young talent Dilshan Munaweera, who won the tournament and emerged the best player of the whole country in no uncertain terms.

Selectors have also turned back to the proven failures Chamara Kapugedara and Jehan Mubarak both of whom had been given plenty of chances but failed to make a mark at international level. Mubarak last played international cricket three years ago.

Sri Lanka Preliminary Squad for World T20

Mahela jayawardana (Capt), T.M Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Anjelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulaseara, Thisara Perera, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedara, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana, Rangana Herath, Jeevan Mendis, Shaminda Eranga, Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Dhammika Prasad, Kusal Janith, Jehan Mubarak, Farveez Maharoof, Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Kosala Kulasekara, Prassanna Jayawardane, Nuwan Pradeep, Akila Dhananjaya.

Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)