Lakmal, Vandersay back for T20Is against South Africa

Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, seam bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Asitha Fernando, and batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama have all been named in Sri Lanka's T20 squad for the forthcoming three-match T20 series against South Africa. Allrounder Dasun Shanaka, meanwhile, has been dropped.

Also included in the squad are some of the less-experienced players currently in the one-day outfit. Opener Avishka Fernando and batsmen Priyamal Perera and Angelo Perera have all been picked. There is no room, however, for Oshada Fernando, who had been especially impressive in the Test leg of the ongoing tour.

Dinesh Chandimal, who had been in the T20 squad in New Zealand, and had recently top-scored in Sri Lanka's club-based T20 tournament, has been omitted from this squad as well.

Several injured players were unavailable for selection for this squad. According to chief selector Ashantha de Mel, Angelo Mathews has not yet regained full fitness following his latest hamstring injury, Danushka Gunathilaka continues to suffer with a spine problem, while fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera has picked up another hamstring injury, just as he was recovering from the ankle complaint that had seen him leave the tour of Australia.

Kusal Perera's hamstring injury, meanwhile, is expected to take up to nine weeks to recover from, and he is struggling to make it into the World Cup squad, according to de Mel.

Vandersay is one of two wrist spinners in the squad, with Lakshan Sandakan also present. Akila Dananjaya has been named as well.

Seam bowler Lakmal's presence in the T20 side is something of a surprise. Although a first-choice selection in the Test format, the selectors had cooled on him as a limited-overs bowler in recent months, but have now brought him back for the shortest format.

The T20 series begins in Cape Town on March 19.

Full squad: Lasith Malinga (captain) Niroshan Dickwella (vice-captain), Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan

Amla, Markram, Duminy return for last two ODIs against Sri Lanka

Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla will return to South Africa's squad for the remaining ODIs against Sri Lanka, while JP Duminy is also in line to play his first international cricket for four-and-a-half months as South Africa look to put the finishing touches to their squad ahead of the World Cup.

Weight of runs has forced Markram back into contention after he was left out of the first three games, with his outstanding recent form including back-to-back centuries that have helped propel Titans to the top spot on the Momentum One-Day Cup table.

13.5pt;">Squad for last two ODIs

Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale                 Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen.

Reeza Hendricks and Wiaan Mulder are the two players from the original squad who will sit the next two games out, with the group growing from 14 to 15 for the ODIs in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

Captain Faf du Plessis welcomed the return of experienced hands Amla and Duminy, who has made a successful comeback for Cape Cobras after being out of action following shoulder surgery.

"We've spoken about the balance we'd like, and when you add JP to that you only need five overs from him and your allrounder," du Plessis explained. "It's a real good balance that he brings to the table. Obviously, his experience is amazing. The most important thing from JP's point of view is that he got over his injury. So it's great that he got runs, but that was the concern from us, just from the leadership group that he goes and plays two games, gets back into cricket. Because we know when he's back what he brings to the team from a performance point of view. So good that he comes back into the next two games with some nice form.

"The main concern for me with all the players is that you need make sure you put performances on the board to go to the World Cup"

FAF DU PLESSIS

"We know what Hash has got," du Plessis added. "Hash has played a lot of cricket for South Africa. He's got an amazing record. But we needed to make sure Reeza got an opportunity this series. If Hash gets another opportunity coming back into the side, hopefully he grabs that with both hands.

"The main concern for me with all the players is that you need make sure you put performances on the board to go to the World Cup. It's about our best and most in-form team that's going. Everyone in the dressing room knows that, and I believe it's making us want to raise the bar on our own performance."

Du Plessis' sentiments were echoed by national selection panel convener Linda Zondi. "Experience is always a key factor in major tournaments such as the ICC Men's World Cup," he said. "It is great to see how well JP has regained his best form after being out of action for so long.

"What has also been highly encouraging is see how well the Proteas have played when they have returned to franchise cricket. It is important that they should dominate at this level and that their skills should rub off on our emerging talent. JP, Aiden and Dwaine Pretorius have all made significant contributions to their franchises in recent matches. "We will use the final two matches in the ODI series to continue to examine all the options that are available to us as far as the World Cup squad is concerned."

Du Plessis added that Dale Steyn, who has been a part of the one-day squad for the series but is yet to play a match, is understanding of the need to field test new players such as fast bowler Anrich Nortje.

"Dale understands. Anrich needs to play some games. That is a position that's still needs to be selected. As far as Dale in concerned, he's going to the World Cup. So we need to make sure who is our next fast bowler, and if we want to take a next fast bowler," du Plessis said.

"So we want to give Anrich as much opportunity as possible. He'll definitely get another opportunity out of the next game, and then hopefully Dale in one of the other games."

Du Plessis denied that Steyn's absence had anything to do with managing the paceman's workload to keep him fresh for the World Cup. "No, because he's not going to play a lot of cricket," the captain explained. "He's not going to the IPL. So for now his workload can continue, he can keep bowling in the nets. There was a thought of releasing him to go and play in the Titans, but the Titans are playing well and the balance of their side is probably going to stay the same, so we thought best just to keep training with us. He will get one game out of the next two."

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SL bowling coach Ramanayake enthused by Kumara's progress

Of youthful players that have risen for Sri Lanka in the course of recent months, maybe none has been as shocking as the approaching of Lahiru Kumara. 

He had an astounding keep running in the Under-19 group, yet when Test determination wanted a voyage through Zimbabwe, he only showed up a placeholder brisk until the more experienced bowlers came back from harm. At that point, in his first match in South Africa - and third generally speaking - Kumara gathered the best-ever figures for a Sri Lanka quick bowler in the nation, furthermore turned into the second-most youthful Sri Lankan to guarantee a five-wicket pull. 

Mentors and selectors are enthused by how rapidly he has gone ahead, and the amount he may yet make strides. He needs to take a shot at his control, knocking down some pins mentor Champaka Ramanayake said, yet what Kumara has dependably had is pace. He was timed at almost 145kph at Newlands. 

"He's knocking down some pins 140kph or more, you know? He'll bowl 150 soon," said Ramanayake. "He's only 19 or more and he's learning. To get six wickets here against one of the best groups - he knocked down some pins some splendid balls. On the off chance that he can get more consistency with that length, he can be a decent bowler. 

"The pace has originated from hereditary qualities, so he's dependably had that. In any case, in the event that he continues enhancing general wellness, reinforcing and molding work, he will arrive. Particularly when you're at 23 or 24, your body turns out to be completely developed. That is the time they'll bowl quick." 

Kumara had been in Sri Lanka's age-amass groups for no less than four years, visiting Malaysia with the Under-15 side, before graduating to the Under-19 group in 2014, matured 17. His achievement arrangement had been in Britain a year ago, where he guaranteed 11 for 134 in a Young Test in Northampton. 

At 15 years old he had been recognized, yet when the Under-19 visits came, he was truly highlighted," Ramanayake said. He generally had the pace, however he was somewhat short and wild. Youthful quick bowlers have a tendency to resemble that through that period. In any case, then we worked with him on hitting that length, and he has a characteristic capacity to bowl great inswingers. The length was short, however we've taken a shot at that. Presently he's vastly improved." 

The inswing had seen Kumara put a ball through Hashim Amla's safeguard in the main innings at Newlands, however later that same innings, he likewise inspired balls to leave the privilege hander off the crease, in the wake of having calculated it into the stumps. 

"Presently he's taking a shot at the away-seamer too. Since he bowls wide of the wrinkle, once in a while he bowls that away one, which is extremely troublesome in light of the edge. He's dependably had a decent short ball. I'm not stressed over pace. I need him to bowl more on the correct spot. He's quick, so in the event that he hits that length it's on to the batsman rapidly. No time for them. You can see that he's progressing." 

Sri Lanka's quick knocking down some pins stocks are routinely attacked by harm, in any case, and maintaining a strategic distance from long cutbacks is among the many difficulties that Kumara now confronts. This arrangement is being played without Dhammika Prasad, who had been Sri Lanka's best crease bowler in 2015, however has not played a Test since October of that year because of repeating shoulder inconvenience. Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera - who are on the visit - had likewise been sidelined for a considerable length of time, at various circumstances a year ago. 

"When you have an adolescent you need to oversee him," Ramanayake said. "You never know - whenever you can get an anxiety breaks what not. We need to care for him. Wellness insightful, he's still crude and we'll need to develop him gradually." 

With Kumara's development, Sri Lanka now have two quicks who may conceivably work in the high 145-150kph territory. Chameera, who endured an anxiety break in May a year ago, had already rocked the bowling alley as quick as 149kph on a voyage through New Zealand. He was far from his best on his Test return at Port Elizabeth, however Ramanayake is certain the pace will return in time. 

"Dushy had an anxiety break and after an anxiety crack you are dependably not certain about giving 100%. He was one of our best bowlers before he got harmed, and he'll return unquestionably. I'm not certain whether he's playing this Johannesburg Test or not, but rather later on, on the off chance that we have two bowlers who can bowl at 145kph or more, any side will be exceptionally upbeat. A tiny bit all the more knocking down some pins will help him."

Behardien to lead in T20 as SA ring changes

Farhaan Behardien will skipper another look South African T20 furnish in their arrangement against Sri Lanka not long from now, which incorporates six new tops. The 13-man squad for the initial two matches has just four individuals - Behardien, David Mill operator, Imran Tahir, Aaron Phangiso - who were a piece of South Africa's last T20 matches at the World T20 in Walk 2016.

Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw and David Wiese were not considered on the grounds that both have as of late marked Kolpak arrangements to play in district cricket, in this way finishing their worldwide vocations.

The radical changes toward the South Africa squad - including resting consistent captain Faf du Plessis and a few senior players, for example, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada - come accordingly of a stuffed installation list which has seen insufficient breaks since last November. South Africa had three weeks between their Tests in Australia to the home arrangement against Sri Lanka and will just have four days between the finish of that and their outing to New Zealand. They have distinguished the most limited organization, which does not have a noteworthy competition coming up until no less than 2018, as the range they can bear to try in.

"We have chosen to rest some of our key senior players for this arrangement," Linda Zondi, convener of selector said. "This is the last shot we need to do this as the ODI arrangement that takes after is a vital piece of our development to the Champions Trophy competition in Britain amidst the year.

"Those senior players who are included in the Indian Chief Alliance will play constant from now until the finish of August with the visits coming up to New Zealand and Britain notwithstanding the ICC occasion."

There are two veterans who may return for the last installation, however. Stomach muscle de Villiers and Morne Morkel, neither of whom have played since the CPL in June on account of elbow and back wounds individually, are both because of play a Rundown An amusement for Northerns on January 22, three days before the last T20 in Cape Town. Should they get through that match unscathed, they will be considered for the last match and South Africa's visit to New Zealand.

A portion of the new considerations will likewise be peering toward that trek. Albeit South Africa play only one T20 in Auckland, they will know there are places up for snatches in the ODI squad, particularly with the new ball. Andile Phehlukwayo, who was South Africa's most elevated wicket-taker in the late ODI arrangement against Australia and is probably going to make his T20 make a big appearance against Sri Lanka, could be in dispute for that part.

Dane Paterson, the Cobras speedy, will likewise favor his odds. Paterson took only six wickets from nine matches at 39.00 in this current season's T20 rivalry however was in the main ten in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 versions. Titans bowler Lungi Ngidi, 20, who assumed an essential part in their triumph in the local T20 last with 2 for 27 in four overs, is the other new face in the rocking the bowling alley office.

Among the batsmen, some settled players have been compensated for periods of consistency. Jon-Jon Mucks from the Warriors, who finished the T20 rivalry run diagrams with 371 keeps running at 41.22, is among them. Heino Kuhn was seventh on the rundown and has the opportunity to add to his five T20 tops while Reeza Hendricks, who has played a similar number of T20 internationals yet did not perform especially well for the Lions, was likewise included. Theunis de Bruyn, who is the save batsmen in the Test squad and just played a large portion of this present season's T20 coordinates yet scored 195 keeps running at 48.75, has additionally been incorporated.

Without de Kock and de Villiers, Mangaliso Mosehle is set to take the wicketkeeping gloves. Mosehle is additionally a helpful center request batsman and completed eighth on the run list in the T20 competition.

Among those disregarded were Rassie van der Dussen, who was fourth on the batting outlines, Andrew Birch, who completed as the second most noteworthy wicket-taker, and Sisanda Magala, who was third. Chris Morris couldn't be considered in light of the fact that he has yet to make a rebound from a knee damage that has sidelined him throughout the previous three months. Morris was because of play for the Titans in a top notch coordinate a week ago yet the installation was rained out.

South Africa T20 squad: Farhaan Behardien (capt), Theunis de Bruyn, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heino Kuhn, David Mill operator, Mangaliso Mosehle, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Jon-Jon Mucks