Lasith Malinga to lead Sri Lanka in ICC World Twenty20 semis after Chandimal pulls out: report

Sri Lanka will be without their first-choice skipper Dinesh Chandimal in the ICC World Twenty20 semifinal against West Indies in Dhaka on Thursday evening. Lasith Malinga, who skippered the team in Sri Lanka's last group match against New Zealand, will captain the team, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo. (Match preview)

According to the report, Chandimal has "opted out" leaving the captaincy role to Malinga, who will also spearhead the bowling attack. With Chandimal opting out, Lahiru Thirimanne will surely get his second game of the tournament. The left-handed Thirimanne is a solid middle-order option and should bat at No. 5 after Kumar Sangakkara.

The 24-year-old Chandimal has been in sketchy form in recent weeks. He scored 12 in a group match against South Africa and did not get to bat against Netherlands and England. He was suspended by ICC for the game against New Zealand. Thirimanne, also 24, scored 20 off 18 balls against the Kiwis. He had slammed a century in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan on March 8.

Sri Lanka lost in the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 final to West Indies and they will hope to avenge that defeat in the semi-final. West Indies will look to become the first team in history to successfully defend the title. (Also read: Sri Lanka want revenge for loss vs WI in 2012 final)