Tour to India: Veteran pacer recalled to Sri Lankan squad after 4 years

An injury-hit Sri Lanka on Thursday recalled veteran fast bowler Dilhara Fernando in the Dinesh Chandimal led national squad for the three-match T20 International series against India, next month. India will host Sri lanka for a three-match series starting on February 9 in Pune, followed matches at Delhi and Visakhapatnam on February 12 and 14 respectively.

The 36-year-old Fernando, last played for Sri Lanka, way back in 2012 and has been recalled in place of T20 captain Lasith Malinga, who is recuperating from an injury. Fernando has played 40 Tests, 141 ODIs and 17 T20 internationals for the island nation. The other notable inclusions are uncapped middle-order batsman Asela Gunaratne and medium pacer Kasun Rajitha. Leg- spinner Seekkugge Prasanna makes a comeback.

Apart from Malinga, others who are missing the tour are Test captain Angelo Mathews, opener Kusal Perera, seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, all of whom are expected to be fit and available for the World T20.

Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (C), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Seekuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Asela Gunaratne, Chamara Kapugedera, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilhara Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Binura Fernando, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeffrey Vandersay.