Tharanga, Vithanage in SL ODI squad

Sri Lanka have recalled batsmen Kithuruwan Vithanage and Upul Tharanga in their 16-man squad for the first two ODIs against South Africa in July. Suranga Lakmal makes a comeback after being injured during the series in England, while Kusal Perera has been included subject to fitness.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal and Chaturanga de Silva, an allrounder who bowls left-arm spin, were the players cut from the group that travelled to England. Chandimal scored only 38 runs in three ODIs on that tour, while de Silva did not get a game. The last of de Silva's five ODIs was the Asia Cup final in March.

Tharanga's most recent ODI appearance was against Ireland in Dublin in May this year, but that was his only game since July 2013, when South Africa last toured Sri Lanka. Vithanage also played the Dublin game, but was not included in the squad that beat England 3-2 in May and June.

Lakmal had sustained a hamstring tear during the first ODI of that series at The Oval and was ruled out for the remainder of the tour. He was replaced by Dhammika Prasad for the second ODI, before Rangana Herath was added to the squad as a replacement. Herath is part of the group for the home series against South Africa, but Prasad is not.

Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne (vc), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Ashan Priyanjan, Upul Tharanga, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal.