No Mathews and Karunaratne for domestic T-20 League

Sri Lanka’s selectors have recalled a whole lot of former internationals in their last legs for the domestic T-20 League that will get underway later this month at Pallekele but there was no room for former captains Angelo Mathews or Dimuth Karunaratne.

SLC has divided all top domestic players into four teams and over two weeks the teams will be based in Kandy and will engage in what is expected to be a highly competitive T-20 series. The event that gets underway on the 12th of August will end on the 24th of August. Selections for the six match white ball series against South Africa is expected to be done basing on performance in this competition.

Former captain Dinesh Chandimal and Suranga Lakmal, who were overlooked for the recent white ball games return for the competition with Chandimal leading one of the sides. The other captains are Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Ashen Priyanjan.

Mahela Udawatte, Asela Gunaratne, Seekkuge Prasanna and Milinda Siriwardene, all over the age of 35, get a look in for the competition but there is no place for some of the deserving players like Roshen Silva and Lahiru Madushanka. Gunaratne of course deserves a second chance having won

Sri Lanka a few matches and so does Seekkuge as he is part of global T-20 competitions. But there are question marks in cricket circles as to how the likes of Udawatte and Siriwardene can get a look in.

There are few talented young players named in the squad and one name that will draw a lot of attention is former Under-19 player Krishan Sanjula

Squads for SLC Invitation T-20 League

SLC Blues:

Nishan Madushka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Hashan Randika, Dhananjaya de Silva (Captain), Himasha Liyanage, Pawan Ratnayake, Ashen Bandara, Angelo Perera, Sahan Arachchige, Lahiru Samarakoon, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Suranga Lakmal, Kalana Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Shiran Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama, Mahesh Theekshana and Sachindu Colombage.

SLC Greens:

Lahiru Udara, Mahela Udawatte, Krishan Sanjula, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Saminda Fernando, Ashen Priyanjan (Captain), Kamindu Mendis, Sammu Ashan, Ramesh Mendis, Suminda Lakshan, Ishan Jayaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Nuwan Tushara and Lahiru Gamage.

SLC Reds:

Avishka Fernando, Nipun Dananjaya, Sandun Weerakkody, Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Oshada Fernando, Muditha Lakshan, Asela Gunaratne, Lasith Abeyratne, Seekkuge Prasanna, Chamika Karunaratne, Jehan Daniel, Santhush Gunathilaka, Binura Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Asitha Fernando, Himesh Ramanayake, Nimesh Vimukthi and Akila Dananjaya.

SLC Greys:

Minod Bhanuka, Lasith Croospulle, Sangeeth Cooray, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanindu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Chathuranga de Silva, Lahiru Madushanka, Milinda Siriwardene, Koshan Jayawickrama, Udith Madushan, Nuwan Pradeep, Chamika Gunasekara and Matheesha Pathirana.