Lasith Malinga returns as Sri Lanka captain for limited-overs series against New Zealand

Veteran Lasith Malinga was on Thursday announced as the captain for Sri Lanka’s limited-overs series against New Zealand.

The 35-year-old fast bowler, who led Sri Lanka to the T20 World Cup in 2014, was named the skipper of a 17-member squad. They are slated to play three ODIs and one Twenty20 against the Kiwis beginning January 3.

Malinga last led Sri Lanka against the UAE in February 2016, following which he retired from all forms of the game for a year because of frequent injuries.

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But the veteran cricketer made a comeback to cricket last year and even captained Sri Lanka in a one-off ODI against India last year.

Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand will see the Island nation play a two-match Test series before moving on to the limited-overs series.

With no government in place, the country’s president Maithripala Sirisena ratified the latest squad.

Sri Lanka full squad:

Lasith Malinga (Captain), Niroshan Dickwella (V.Captain), Angelo Mathews, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Asela Gunaratne, Kusal Mendis,Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep and Lahiru Kumara.

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