Mathews Named As Sri Lanka Test Captain

Mathews Named As Sri Lanka Test Captain

Angelo Mathews (right) has been named as Sri Lanka's new Test captain while Chandimal (left) will lead the Twenty20 International side and be Mathews' deputy in Tests and ODIs

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Angelo Mathews has been named as Sri Lanka's new Test and One-Day International captain with Dinesh Chandimal taking over as Twenty20 International skipper.

Mathews had already been leading the one-day side but following Mahela Jayawardene's decision to step down as Test captain, he becomes their fourth captain in the last three years after Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jayawardene.

As well as taking over the Twenty20 captaincy, Chandimal, 22, will act as Mathews' vice-captain in both Test and ODI cricket while experienced fast bowler Lasith Malinga is the new Twenty20 vice-captain.

Mathews, Chandimal and Malinga have been installed in their new roles until the end of the Pakistan tour early next year, which is scheduled to end next January.

Mathews has played 31 Tests, 90 ODIs and 38 T20s for Sri Lanka, including the finals of the 2009 and 2012 ICC World Twenty20 events. Chandimal has played five Tests, 50 ODis and 14 T20s.

In addition, a 20-man squad has been named ahead of a two-Test series at home to Bangladesh in March. Sangakkara, who missed the end of the recent tour of Australia due to injury, is included, but must prove his fitness prior to final selection.

The two games will be played in Galle and an as-yet-unconfirmed venue beginning on 8th and 16th March.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Ashen Silva, Kumar Sangakkara (subject to fitness), Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Kusal Janith, Jeevan Mendis, Kithruwan Vithanage, Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Chanaka Welagedara, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Rangana Herath, Tharindu Kaushal

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