Kusal Mendis to lead SL in U-19 World Cup

Kusal Mendis has been named captain of Sri Lanka's 15-member squad for the Under-19 World Cup, which begins next month in the UAE. Mendis captained the team during the recent ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, and scored 166 runs at an average of 41.50, including a century against Bangladesh and 52 against India.

The squad contains one survivor from the 2012 Under-19 World Cup in Australia in Anuk Fernando. The left-handed allrounder played only two matches, but has since assumed an important role for the side with his left-arm seam and his batting down the order.

Hashan Ramanayake, Harsha Rajapaksha and Hashan Vimarshana have replaced three members of the squad for the Asia Cup, where Sri Lanka lost to Afghanistan in their group, but recovered to make the semi-finals. They then lost to eventual champions India.

The team will be coached by Naveed Nawaz, who played for one Test and three ODIs for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, who have been drawn in Group D alongside New Zealand, England and the hosts UAE, will begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Sharjah on February 14. The team will undertake a training camp in Dambulla before leaving for the UAE.

Sri Lanka Under-19 squad: Kusal Mendis (capt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Minod Bhanuka, Hashan Dumindu, Kavindu Kulasekara, Priyamal Perera, Thilaksha Malshan Sumanasiri, Hashan Ramanayake, Binura Fernando, Anuk Fernando, Hashan Vimarshana, AK Tyronne, Lakshan Jayasinghe, Ramesh Mendis, Harsha Rajapaksha