Sri Lanka’s national cricketers left for the inaugural Twenty-20 World Cup in South Africa yesterday. The tour will be the first undertaken by Sri Lanka’s new management staff that consists of head coach Trevor Bayliss, manger Srian Samararatne, assistant coach Paul Farbrace and fitness trainer Jade Roberts.

The Sri Lankans will be based in Potchefstrom, where the practice facilities are excellent. Potchefstrom is just 40 minutes away from Johannesburg and the Sri Lankans will move to the South African capital for their first round matches. The two practice games against South Africa and Pakistan will be played in Potchefstrom.

Sri Lanka, who are in group ‘C’ alongside New Zealand and Kenya will play their first game of the competition on 14th of September at Jo’burg against Kenya. The tournament starts on 11th of September with a game between hosts South Africa and the West Indies also at Jo’burg.

There aren’t major changes in the Sri Lankan line up and the specialists called up for the shortest form of the game are Hasantha Fernando, Gayan Wijekoon and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

All-rounder Dilruwan Perera was a last minute inclusion for the injured Muttiah Muralitharan.

Sri Lanka Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (Captain), Tillekeratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Hasantha Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Jehan Mubarak, Dilruwan Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Chaminda Vaas and Gayan Wijekoon,