Weeks after abandoning Pakistan tour, SL sacks Asalanka from captaincy

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka connected Friday named Dasun Shanaka arsenic skipper of its preliminary 25-member squad for the T20 World Cup, removing Charith Asalanka from the enactment relation aft helium returned location from Pakistan midway done the triangular series.Pramodaya Wickramasingha, who has returned arsenic president of selectors, said Asalanka’s mediocre batting signifier and Shanaka’s acquisition of playing 3 erstwhile World Cups led to the decision."Shanaka's relation volition beryllium of an all-rounder. When I stopped being a selector, Shanaka was the captain. Charith (Asalanka) was successful our agelong word plans then," Wickramasingha said.Asalanka had been nether scrutiny since helium near the white-ball circuit of Pakistan past period citing information concerns aft a termination weaponry detonation successful Islamabad that killed 9 people.

During the bilateral ODI series, Asalanka, who was starring the side, wanted the circuit abandoned and allegedly urged immoderate teammates to instrumentality home. Sri Lanka Cricket did not hold with the request and warned of action. The squad aboriginal stayed on, with the last 2 matches rescheduled.Asalanka returned location earlier the triangular T20 series, officially owed to sick health, pursuing which Shanaka took implicit the captaincy.

Days later, Asalanka has been removed arsenic skipper for the World Cup squad.Wickramasingha said the selectors wanted to trim Asalanka’s enactment load up of location bid against Pakistan and England. Asalanka remains portion of the squad arsenic a batter."We anticipation helium volition regain his batting form. In consultation with Sanath Jayasuriya (the caput coach) we decided it was not the clip to marque excessively galore changes. So we decided to spell with the aforesaid squad," helium said.On Niroshan Dickwella’s return, Wickramasingha said helium was considered for aggregate roles. "As an opener, a reserve wicket keeper oregon adjacent a mediate bid batter."He added that going forward, the manager would besides stock work for squad performance. "We volition person targets for fittingness for example. I volition clasp the trainer liable if the players were not capable to conscionable the required fittingness level," helium said.Sri Lanka person been placed successful a radical with Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman successful the tournament, which begins connected February 7.Sri Lanka Squad: Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Traveen Mathew.