ICC World Twenty20: Team guide - Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka could not be in better shape heading into the ICC World Twenty20 under the leadership of Dinesh Chandimal.
Last Updated: 17/03/14 12:18pm
While that was 50-over cricket, their triumph over Pakistan in the final will have done them no harm, particularly as the squad sees just one alteration.
Batsman Ashan Priyanjan replaces Seekkuge Prasanna from the 15 on duty in the Asia Cup, though there is a change in captaincy too, as Dinesh Chandimal leads his country into a major tournament for the first time.
The skipper does not lack for experienced old heads to call upon for help in the field - Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene are still going strong, as too is Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Current Test and one-day captain Angelo Mathews is also present, one of several all-rounders that give Sri Lanka depth in both batting and bowling.
As well as Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara and Thisara Perera can prosper with both bat and ball - the pair scored useful runs in the two T20 victories over Bangladesh in February, making contributions that proved vital as they won both matches off the last ball.
Reliant
However, the key to Sri Lanka's hopes rest in the hands of their top order and one bowler above all others - Lasith Malinga.
While pace bowling is not expected to prosper on low, slow wickets, Malinga's ability to mix up both his pace and length with little variation in his action makes him a dangerous proposition to deal with, particularly at the death.
There are also plenty of spin options for Chandimal to call upon - Ajantha Mendis perhaps isn't the great mystery he once was (twice in his career he has astonishingly taken six wickets, but hasn't since picked up more than one in an innings since October 2012), but still will prove a handful for group opponents England, New Zealand and South Africa, none of whom face as much slow bowling at home as they can expect to during the tournament.
The batting is still reliant on the well-tested trio of Dilshan, who has been used as an opening bowler with his rather rapid off-spin, Jayawardene and Sangakkara. At a combined age of 109 they may not be around for too much longer in Twenty20 action, so enjoy them while you can.
If this is their last crack at lifting the trophy, they will be determined not to fall at the last hurdle for a third time.
Sri Lanka were comprehensively beaten in 2009 by Pakistan at Lord's and then two years ago missed out again, this time on home soil. Having crushed West Indies in the Super Eight stage in Pallekele, the roles were reversed when the same two teams met in the final in Colombo.
Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardena, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne