Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga in Sri Lanka squad for ICC Champions Trophy
Monday 24 April 2017 11:36, UK
Fit-again Angelo Mathews will lead a Sri Lanka squad also including veteran paceman Lasith Malinga at June's ICC Champions Trophy in England.
Mathews recently returned to action in the Indian Premier League after missing his country's one-day series in South Africa, the tour of Australia and the home series against Bangladesh with a hamstring injury.
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The all-rounder's bowling options are boosted by Malinga's availability, with the 33-year-old's rehabilitation from a knee injury now complete.
Malinga, who quit Test cricket in 2011, played the last of his 191 one-day internationals in 2015 and only returned to international cricket in their Twenty20 series in Australia earlier this year.
On top of the 15-man squad, Sri Lanka will take Dilruwan Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka to England as standby players.
"I think I've got the best possible team," Mathews said.
"Plus we are travelling with 17, which gives us a lot more options... if something happens to someone, it's always better to have a couple of players over there.
"It's another opportunity for us to bring a lot of pride back to Sri Lanka. It's an opportunity for us to bring an ICC trophy back home."
Sri Lanka squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Asela Gunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thisara Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Seekkuge Prasanna.
Watch the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy live on Sky Sports this summer - the action begins with England against Bangladesh on June 1.
