Sri Lanka named unchanged squad for World Cup qualifiers; Mathews misses out

Experienced batsman Angelo Mathews was omitted from the Sri Lanka squad for the Cricket World Cup qualifiers this month, in an otherwise unchanged squad named for the three-month ODI series against Afghanistan. 

Brought in earlier this year to support an otherwise inexperienced ODI batting line up, Mathews managed just scored of 18, 0 and 12 in three matches since his return, and with only 15 players allowed in the squad, the former captain failed to make the cut. 

Of the 15 players named for the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe, only Chamika Karunaratne did not feature in a single game in the series against Afghanistan, which Sri Lanka won 2-1. 

Sri Lanka begin their qualification campaign against the United Arab Emirates on June 19, but are scheduled to play two warm up matches against the Netherlands and the United States of America next week. 

Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk) Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrema (wk), Dhanajaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (C), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha