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Sri Lanka surprise with World Cup squad

Dhananjaya, Dickwella, Chandimal all omitted as '96 world champs confirm Karunaratne as captain

Sri Lanka have sprung a number of selection shocks with their World Cup squad, including the omissions of former captain Dinesh Chandimal, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella and off-spinner Akila Dananjaya.

Sri Lanka World Cup squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal

The 15-man group includes batsman Lahiru Thirimanne, leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, and spin-bowling allrounders Milinda Siriwardana and Jeevan Mendis, all of whom have recently been out of favour when it comes to ODI selection.

Opening batsmen Danushka Gunathilaka and Upul Tharanga were also overlooked as Sri Lanka look to reverse a worrying recent trend in 2019, having lost all eight ODIs they have played.

On Wednesday, Sri Lanka axed Lasith Malinga as captain and replaced him with Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who has not played an ODI in more than four years.

Chairman of selectors Asantha de Mel said they wanted "somebody who can get the team together" at the event in England, where Sri Lanka will play their first game against New Zealand on June 1.

De Mel admitted that the Sri Lankan team, which has been riven with personality clashes and disciplinary troubles in recent years, were struggling with "a lot of issues inside".

On the sacking of Malinga, de Mel said: "He was OK as captain, but he does not get along well with some of the senior players."

Karunaratne was the only choice left to take the reins, after veteran former skipper Angelo Mathews opted out of becoming captain owing to differences with the coach Chandika Hathurusinghe.

His appointment comes just weeks after he was arrested for a drink-driving incident that injured another driver, the 31-year-old labelling his actions "utterly unbecoming of a Sri Lankan national cricketer".

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

May 25: (warm-up) England v Australia, Southampton

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE