/ 18 April 2011

Dilshan named as Sri Lanka’s new skipper

Dilshan Named As Sri Lanka's New Skipper

Sri Lanka’s cricket authorities on Monday named all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan as captain for the upcoming tour of England.

Dilshan will lead the side in all three formats of the game — Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20s — on the tour, which starts in May, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

The 34-year-old replaces Kumar Sangakkara, who stepped down after Sri Lanka lost the World Cup final to India earlier this month.

The five-member national selection panel headed by Duleep Mendis, a former Sri Lanka skipper, did not name a vice-captain.

“The prospective candidates are nursing injuries and their availability for the forthcoming tour is still in question,” the statement said.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews (23) has been tipped to be vice-captain, but he is nursing a side strain suffered during the World Cup semifinal. — AFP