News Item in CRICKETAGE, 24 July 2018, where the title is “Angelo Mathews Named Sri Lanka Captain For South Africa ODIs”
Colts Cricket Club left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya is the only new face in the Sri Lanka 15 Men ODI squad for the five match series against South Africa. Angelo Mathews has returned as the captain of the side, after missing out Nidahas trophy due to injury, while allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya has also received much-deserved recall after his magnificent show with the bat in recently concluded Bangladesh tour for Sri Lanka A.
Danushka Gunathilaka, who has been handed a suspension by the SLC, is not included, nor Dinesh Chandimal, who’s serving a six-match ban of two Tests and four ODIs. Meanwhile Asela Gunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, Shehan Madushanka and Wanidu Hasaranga are all excluded from the squad that featured in Bangladesh.
Prabath Jayasuriya, who has been a steady performer in domestic cricket over the past few years, and has been singled out by spin coach Piyal Wijetunge as an excellent prospect. He is the only uncapped member of the squad, which features two other frontline spinners in Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan. There is no place for Dushmantha Chameera, the young paceman who played during Sri Lanka’s last ODI campaign, the final of the triangular series in Bangladesh when, under Chandimal, they defeated the hosts by 79 runs in the title clash.
The ODI series begins on July 29 in Dambulla.
Angelo Mathews – Captain
Dasun Shanaka
Kusal Janith Perera
Dhananjaya De Silva
Upul Tharanga
Kusal Mendis
Thisara Perera
Niroshan Dickwella
Suranga Lakmal
Lahiru Kumara
Kasun Rajitha
Akila Dananjaya
Prabath Jayasuriya
Lakshan Sandakan
Shehan Jayasuriya
STANDBYS
Dimuth Karunaratne
Isuru Udana
Nishan Peiris
Jeffrey Vandersay
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ESPNcricinfo Report, July 2018
Sri Lanka’s designated ODI captain, Angelo Mathews, will lead them against South Africa in the five-match ODI series scheduled to begin from July 29. Mathews was reinstated as Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain in January this year, but was hit by injury less than two weeks into his new leadership stint. He had since been out of both ODIs and T20Is for Sri Lanka. Dinesh Chandimal, who led Sri Lanka in Mathews’ absence, and who will serve a four-match ODI ban, has not been included in the squad.
Also selected is left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who has been a steady performer in domestic cricket over the past few years, and has been singled out by spin coach Piyal Wijetunge as an excellent prospect. He is the only uncapped member of the squad, which features two other frontline spinners in Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan.
Six players who had been in the last Sri Lanka ODI squad have not made it to this one. Most notable among the omissions are fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and allrounder Asela Gunaratne. Also missing out are Nuwan Pradeep, as well as Danushka Gunathilaka, who was banned from all international formats by SLC earlier this week. Rookie pacer Shehan Madhushanka, who took 3 for 26 in his only ODI, Sri Lanka’s last, does not find a place and neither does legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
Seam bowler Kasun Rajitha, who made his Test debut in the West Indies last month, could be in line for an ODI debut. Allrounders Shehan Jayasuriya and Dasun Shanaka complete the squad.
The first ODI of the five-match series will be played in Dambulla, on July 29.
Sri Lanka squad: 1 Angelo Mathews (capt.) , 2 Dasun Shanaka, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Dhananjaya De Silva, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Kusal Mendis, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Niroshan Dickwella, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lahiru Kumara, 11 Kasun Rajitha, 12 Akila Dananjaya, 13 Prabath Jayasuriya, 14 Lakshan Sandakan, 15 Shehan Jayasuriya
Stand-bys: Dimuth Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Nishan Peiris, Jeffrey Vandersay