Colombo: Cleared of suspect bowling after undergoing corrective action, off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake was on Wednesday included in Sri Lanka’s 15-member cricket World Cup squad while pace bowler Laisth Malinga was named subject to proving fitness. (World Cup Squads: India, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh)
Senanayake was initially banned by the ICC for a suspect bowling action but later cleared after corrective action was taken to rectify his delivery stride.
Left-handed opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who scored a century in the first Test against New Zealand at Christchurch, also figured in the squad to be captained by Angelo Mathews.
Also included in the squad for the World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 was fast medium bowler Nuwan Kulasekera.
The national selectors picked Malinga in the squad subject to proving fitness.
Malinga underwent surgery on a troubled left ankle in September last, and missed Sri Lanka’s one-dayers in India and England after that, before returning to the squad for the upcoming ODIs against New Zealand.
There are no real surprises in the squad. In Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka have a wealth of experience at their disposal, even without Malinga.
Sri Lanka Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Lahiru Thirimanna, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga (subject to fitness), Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senananayke, Dinmuth Karunaratne.