Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of Asia Cup 2018 after failing to recover from a fracture to his right middle finger. He sustained the injury during the recent domestic T20 tournament. Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who was among five standby players, has replaced Chandimal in the 16-member squad.
This is yet another setback for Chandimal, who has been earmarked by SLC as a key limited-overs player ahead of next year's World Cup. Earlier, Chandimal had missed almost the entire series against South Africa at home because of a spirit of cricket violation.
Dickwella was one of the standout players during the South Africa tour and his exclusion from the initial squad was a surprise. The 25-year-old has been out of Sri Lanka's T20I team since their tour of Bangladesh in February. He played in last month's domestic T20 tournament, but managed just 24 runs in four innings.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to play Bangladesh in the tournament opener on September 15, before facing Afghanistan on September 17.
Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Dilruwan Perera, Amila Aponso, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Malinga