Malinga, Mathews return to Sri Lanka squad in World T20

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 Lankan win in 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 (vice-captain), 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.