The Sri Lankan Cricket Board finally announced the squad for the Asia Cup T20 as well as the World T20 that will take place in India. Following the trend like all teams they too have named the same squad for both the tournaments.

The selectors have instilled their faith in Malinga to captain the side. He was out injured for the T20 series vs India and in his absence  it was Chandimal who took up the job. However, the selectors think with the experience that he possesses, Malinga is the right man for the job. Also it was Malinga who led the Lions to ICC World T20 trophy in 2014.

In their recent series vs India, Lanka had sent a second string team, the inexperience showed and they lost the series 2-1. Kasun Rajitha, one of the highlights of their first T20 win, with figures of 4-0-29-3 was ignored by the selectors.

The spin department will be manned by Herath along with Senanayake and Jeffrey Vandersay.  While the pace battery will include Malinga, Mathews, Kulasekara, Chameera and Thisara Perera.

The Asia Cup gets underway in Bangladesh on February 24, with Sri Lanka then returning to India to start their World T20 defence in March.

In - Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Rangana Herath

Out - Dilhara Fernando, Seekuge Prasanna, Danushka Gunathilaka, Asela Gunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Binura Fernando

Sri Lanka squad for the Asia Cup and World T20 2016 - Lasith Malinga (C), Angelo Mathews (VC), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardena, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay.