… Lasith Malinga back in squad
AJANTHA Mendis has been left out of the Sri Lanka squad for the three-Test series against India which gets under way on July 18. Mendis is the heir apparent to master off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who will play in his final Test in Galle which opens the series.
But there was no place in the 16 for Mendis, yesterday, with selectors instead preferring 32-year-old left-arm orthodox Rangana Herath.
Paceman Lasith Malinga was also included and could play his first Test since December 2007.
Malinga has been restricted to appearances in the shorter forms of the game due to injuries, but could return for the matches in Galle and Colombo.
The Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dilhara Fernando, Dammika Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Thilina Kandamby, Chanaka Welegedara, Lahiru Thirimann. (Eurosport)