Selection howlers invade Sri Lanka cricket

Sri Lankan cricket selectors have further wounded a struggling team by imposing some questionable omissions in naming the squad to play against Pakistan in the two T20s scheduled for next week.

Out from the squad is batsman Lahiru Thirimanne who probably shot back into form in the fourth ODI against Pakistan with 90 and Dinesh Chandimal who was praised for holding the innings together in more than one match during the ongoing ODI series.

Another player Sachitra Senanayake, noted for his allround abilities but did not play a consistent part in the ODI series, has also no place in the T20 squad.

Also missing from the squad is allrounder Sachith Pathirana who is touted as a better T20 exponent.

If the howlers are not enough, the selectors have also thought it best to bring in the uncapped leg spinner Jeffery Vandersy to the T20 squad which some analysts see as a possible gateway to his destruction.

"Vandersay took eight wickets in a warm-up match against Pakistan and should have played in the third Test when Rangana Herath was dropped if he ever was to play. I hope he will not be destroyed bowling just three or four overs in a T20 match which is no grooming ground for a promising player", said one analyst.

Sri Lanka will play the two T20 matches against Pakistan on July 30 and August 1 at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Lasith Malinga (Captain), TM Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Kulasekera, Binura Fernando, Chaturanga de Silva, Milinda Siriwardene