COLOMBO — Host Sri Lanka Thursday included rank newcomer Akhila Dhananjaya in a 15-man squad for next month's World Twenty20, while recalling unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis. Dhananjaya, a 19-year-old off-spinner who has yet to play first-class cricket, was selected after taking seven wickets in four matches of the ongoing Sri Lanka Premier League Twenty20 competition. Mendis, 27, last played for Sri Lanka in South Africa in January, having been sidelined with a back injury for home matches against England, Pakistan and India this year. Mendis, who bowls leg-spin with a unique finger-flicking action, has taken 40 wickets in 21 Twenty20 internationals. Batsman Dilshan Munaweera and Dhananjaya are the two uncapped players in the squad. Veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara and seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who were injured during last month's limited-overs series against India, were included subject to passing fitness tests, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement. Sri Lanka is drawn with South Africa and Zimbabwe in Group C of the preliminary league, with two teams advancing to the next round. The host takes on Zimbabwe in the opening match of the tournament in Hambantota on Sept. 18. Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Angelo Mathews, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga, Akhila Dhananjaya. WI picks Bravo, Russell Darren Bravo and Andre Russell, who both missed the Twenty20 series win over New Zealand in Florida, were Wednesday included in the West Indies squad for the World Twenty20. Bravo had to head back to the West Indies from the tour of England after suffering a groin injury and missed the home series against New Zealand. Russell missed the two T20 games against the Black Caps Zealand in Florida due to an injury he had picked up in England, but played the one-day series in the Caribbean which followed. Squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Denesh Ramdin (wicketkeeper), Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith. — Agencies
