Chandimal will captain Sri Lanka during the Twenty20 series against New Zealand

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Sri Lanka batsman Dinesh Chandimal will take charge of the national team for the two-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand in January.

Chandimal was handed the reins after regular captain Lasith Malinga was ruled out of the series as he has not sufficiently recovered from a knee injury, which he sustained during Sri Lanka’s home series against the West Indies in October-November

Meanwhile, pace bowler Dhammika Prasad and batsman Kusal Perera are also unavailable for the series as the former is still recovering from a back injury, while the latter was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he tested positive for a banned substance.

Opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka and seamer Suranga Lakmal have been brought in as replacements for Perera and Prasad.