Mathews, Malinga return in Sri Lanka World T20 squad

Fit-again captain Lasith Malinga returned to lead the side, while vice-captain Angelo Mathews also made his way back from injury in Sri lanka’s 15-member squad for next month’s World Twenty20 in India.

Malinga had missed the recent tour to India along with Mathews and seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who was also nursing a niggle.

The team features veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath have also made the cut for the big-ticket event starting March 8.

Surprise omission is fast bowler Kasun Rajitha who stunned India at Pune with a three wicket burst and helped Sri Lanka win the first T20.

Sri Lanka lost their number one T20 ranking in January in New Zealand and then lost 2-1 to India in the recent series.

The squad: Lasith Malinga (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, TM Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath and Jeffrey Vandersay.