Squad: Lasith Malinga (c), Niroshan Dickwella (vc & wk), Akila Dananjaya, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Madushanka, Kusal Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Dasun Shanaka and Isuru Udana
What seems to have worked against former captain Mathews was probably an inability to go big from the word go as well as fitness issues, which is key to accumulating quick runs in T20 cricket. The squad, however, includes young top-order batsman Avishka Fernando along with all-rounder Dashun Shanaka. Among spin-bowling options, there are uncapped leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, chinaman Lakshan Sandakan and Akila Dananjaya, despite the latter being called for a suspect action during the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.
Malinga remains captain of the side and will have four other pace bowlers for the company - Lahiru Kumara, who made his T20 debut in New Zealand this January, uncapped Lahiru Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, and left-armer Isuru Udana.
The first T20 against New Zealand takes place on September 1 at Pallekele, with the remaining two games - on September 3 and 6 - also to be hosted on the same ground.
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 2019: Hosts drop Mathews, recall Dickwella for T20s
Sri Lanka have dropped senior players Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera for the three-match T20 series against New Zealand starting next week. Two other big exclusions include that of Suranga Lakmal and Dhananjaya de Silva, as wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella not only earned a recall, but was also named vice-captain of the side.