Sri Lankan selectors have dropped veteran seamer Lasith Malinga from the One-Day International squad for the five-match series against Pakistan in UAE. Malinga, who has shown indifferent form since making his comeback to the national set-up, had an ordinary series against India at home last month and as a result has been dropped for the Pakistan series.

Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews who has not featured in the test series against the Pakistan due to calf injury has failed to recover for the ODI series also. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) management said in an interview that Angelo is struggling. We thought he will be okay for the ODIs, but while praticising he felt the pain again and has been ruled out. It's a massive loss for us.

Having missed six months of international cricket early this year, he returned for Champions Trophy but only played as a specialist batsman. After defeat in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, he stepped down as captain. The 30-year-old resumed bowling during the Indian series and was injured during practices during preparation for the Test series against Pakistan.

Middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedera has been retained in the side while all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna makes a comeback to the side. Test captain Dinesh Chandimal, who was not in the original ODI squad against India, has also been named in the squad.

Fast bowler Dhammika Prasad, who has missed all forms of international cricket for two years due to shoulder surgery was expected to be named in the squad. But he has been given more time to gain full fitness ahead of the away tour to India next month.

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