Ambidextrous spin-bowling allrounder Kamindu Mendis may have a chance to showcase his unique skills at the senior international level for the first time, after being picked in Sri Lanka’s squad for the one-off T20 against England, on Saturday.
Thisara Perera, who led Sri Lanka’s limited-overs teams in fits and starts towards the end of last year, has been named captain, in the continued absence of Angelo Mathews in limited-overs cricket. Test and ODI captain Dinesh Chandimal also finds a place in the 15-man squad.
Kamindu, 20, has played only a handful of senior matches so far, but has been more-or-less fast-tracked through the system. Though his talents with the ball have been much talked about – Kamindu bowls both right-arm offbreaks and left-arm orthodox – it is his batting that is his main strength. He hit 61 off 72 balls against England in the warm-up match preceding the ODI series. Kamindu had also captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 side as recently as January this year.
Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis has been retained despite an awful run of ODI form, while Kusal Perera has been named even though he was made unavailable for the ongoing ODI series with a quad strain. Expectedly, Lasith Malinga returns to the T20 squad after a hiatus of more than a year, and has Dushmantha Chameera, Isuru Udana and Nuwan Pradeep for company on the fast-bowling front.
The spin contingent comprises of only Akila Dananjaya and left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan – Amila Aponso making it on to the standby list.
The T20I is scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday.
Sri Lanka T20I squad: Thisara Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan