Sri Lanka axe Chandimal as T20 captain

Sri Lanka's cricket selectors on Wednesday sacked DineshChandimal as Twenty20 captain and replaced him with Lasith Malinga, while AngeloMathews was retained as the Test and one-day skipper.Chandimal, 24, opted out of the last three matches, including the semi-final andfinal, of the recent World Twenty20 in Bangladesh due to poor batting form, leavingMalinga in charge.Sri Lanka went on to beat the West Indies in the semi-final and India in the final towin their first major title since 1996 when they bagged the 50-over World Cup.All-rounder Mathews was retained as the Test and one-day captain till the end ofnext year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a release from Sri Lanka Cricketsaid.Lahiru Thirimanne, a 24-year-old left-hand batsman, was promoted to vice-captain inall three formats, the release added.Sri Lanka have yet to appoint a new coach after Englishman Paul Farbrace resignedon Tuesday to take up a possible assignment with England.Farbrace, 46, has been linked to the post of assistant coach to Peter Moores, whowas named England's chief coach last week replacing Zimbabwean Andy Flower.Sri Lanka are due to play two one-day matches against Ireland in Dublin early nextmonth ahead of a tour of England that comprises one T20 international, five one- dayers and two Tests. Source: AFP