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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Cricket Buzz: Malinga is Sri Lanka's new T20 skipper
This article was first published 9 years ago

Cricket Buzz: Malinga is Sri Lanka's new T20 skipper

April 23, 2014 17:36 IST

Image: Lasith Malinga
Photographs: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Pacer Lasith Malinga, who led Sri Lanka to the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh, has been rewarded with the team’s captaincy in the shortest format of the game, as struggling batsman Dinesh Chandimal got the axe, on Wednesday.

Chandimal was originally captain of the T20 squad but Malinga led the team in the last three games of the World T20, including the summit clash, as the former was rendered unavailable for the two games following an ICC suspension and later dropped for poor form.

Chandimal, who at 23 became Sri Lanka's youngest captain in any format last year, witnessed a dip in his batting during the World T20.

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Left-hand batsman Lahiru Thirimanna was appointed Malinga's deputy and will also be vice-captain of the Test and ODI teams under skipper Angelo Mathews.

The World T20 triumph was Sri Lanka's first major international title since they won the World Cup in 1996 under Arjuna Ranatunga.

Sri Lanka Cricket sources said the current contract dispute with the national squad would soon be resolved as the players have agreed to a new payment formula for annual contracts.

It is learnt that the players have expressed willingness to accept 10 per cent from the ICC revenues derived by SLC. A dispute arose after they demanded 20 per cent and refused to enter into contracts.

SLC subsequently came up with an incentive-based pay with around seven per cent increase over previous contract fees which also would have meant players garnering around 12 per cent from the ICC revenues.

The players though stood their ground even as the team departed for Bangladesh to play in the World T20 without annual contracts.

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Four contenders for Proteas Test captaincy

Image: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images
Photographs: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Cricket South Africa is reportedly considering four contenders to handle the reins of their Test team following the vacancy left by former captain Graeme Smith. South Africa ODI captain AB de Villiers and Twenty20 skipper Faf du Plessis are reportedly being considered to spearhead the Test team on their next assignment against Sri Lanka in July.

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There is also speculation that South Africa’s senior batsman Hashim Amla and all-rounder JP Duminy are also being considered as Smith's successors for the Test format, Sport24 reported.

Andrew Hudson’s selection panel will reportedly present their recommendations for South Africa’s Test captaincy to the CSA Board for final approval before the board’s next meeting in June.