Sri Lanka announced T20 and ODI squad against Pakistan

Sri Lanka has notified its teams which will participate in the 2 T20s and 5 ODIs vs. Pakistan that Mahela Jayawardene will lead them in both formats of the game.

Pakistan cricket team will be visiting Sri Lanka and will play a couple of Twenty 20s and five One Day Internationals in June 2012.

Nuwan Pradeep, a young fast bowler, who has appeared in just one Test has been included in the ODI squad as Dilhara Fernando and Jeevan Mendis have made a comeback in the national team as well.

Nuwan Pradeep

Aththachchi Nuwan Pradeep Roshan Fernando was born on October 19, 1986, in Negombo, a right arm medium fast bowler and right hand batsman. He has played for Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI, Royal Challengers Bangalore and few domestic teams.

Nuwan is the future of the Islanders and carries a lot of promise, an emerging fast bowler who has a slinging action and is capable of bowling long spells with accuracy. He represented Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in the recently concluded CSN Premier Clubs T20 Tournament, in which he has bowled excellently and has done well in both the ODIs and the first class games for his team.

The 25-year-old has played 27 list A matches and has grabbed 37 wickets at an excellent average of 23.56 runs per wicket with the best of 5-30 in a match. He took part in 10 T20s and has taken 11 wickets averaging 24.18 with the best of 3-19.

Dilhara Fernando

Congenige Randhi Dilhara Fernando was born on July 19, 1979, in Colombo, a right arm medium fast bowler and right hand batsman. He has played for Sri Lanka, Worcestershire, Mumbai Indians, Sri Lanka Board President’s XI and Sinhalese Sports Club.

He is a competent pace bowler who gas already delivered his best for the national side and is capable of reverse swing and accurate bowling  in the dying overs of the match. The right hander played his last ODI against South Africa on January 11, 2012, at Boland Bank Park, Paarl.

Fernando made his ODI debut on January 9, 2001 vs. South Africa at Paarl, has played 147 matches and grasped 187 wickets at an average of 30.20 with the best of 6-27.

Jeevan Mendis

Balapuwaduge Manukulasuriya Amith Jeevan Mendis was born on January 15, 1983, in Colombo, a right arm leg spin bowler and left hand batsman. He has played for Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Dhaka Division and some domestic teams.

He is a useful all rounder, better known for his leg spin bowling and has impressed with his adventurous bowling on domestic as well as on international level.

The 29-year-old played his first ODI against Zimbabwe on June 1, 2010 at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo and claimed two wickets in the match which Sri Lanka won by a huge margin of 9 wickets.

Mendis has appeared in 19 ODIs and has taken 14 wickets averaging 35.71 runs per wicket with the best of 3-36. He has scored 211 runs at an average of 19.18 with the best of 48 runs.

ODI squad

• Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Upul Tharanga, Nuwan Pradeep, Dilhara Fernando.

T20 squad

• Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk),Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushalya Lokuarachchi, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana.

The first T20 will be played on June 1, 2012 at Mahindra Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota whereas the first ODI will be held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on June 7, 2012.