Siriwardene and two others dropped from World Cup squad

Sri Lanka selectors have dropped the country's top three top run-getters in the Women's World Cup in Australia from the 14-member squad for next month's World Twenty20.

The players dropped are team captain Shashikala Siriwardene, opening batsman Dedunu Silva and all-rounder Suwini de Alwis.

Siriwardene topped the run-scoring list with 72 runs (at 18.00), and was followed by Dedunu with 68 runs (at 17.00) and Suwini 65 runs (at 16.25). Sri Lanka failed to win any of their three group matches in the World Cup and did not qualify for the Super Six stage.

In the absence of Siriwardene, who has been captain for the past three years, Chamari Polgampola will take over the leadership for the Women's World Twenty20 with Eshani Kaushalya as her deputy.

Sri Lanka Cricket sources say they were dropped on grounds of indiscipline, though the specific incident(s) involved have not been made known. Dedunu and Suwini, sources said, were dropped on the basis of the team manager's report after the World Cup, following which they were suspended by SLC's interim committee.

SLC sources did not want to disclose the reasons behind Siriwardene's dropping.

Sri Lanka are drawn in Pool B with Pakistan, England and India in the tournament that will run from June 5-21 in the UK.

Sri Lanka Women's ICC World Twenty20 team: Chamari Polgampola (captain), Eshani Kaushalya (vice-captain), Hiruka Fernando, Deepika Rasangika, Rose Fernando, Dilini Manodara, Udeshika Probodani, Sripali Weerakkody, Chamari Atapattu, Sadamali Dolawatha, Chamilka Bandara, Sumudu Fernando, Saduni Abeywickrama, Inoka Galagedara.