Sri Lanka names Sangakkara as skipper

 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:36 GMT

 

Sri Lanka on Wednesday promoted Kumar Sangakkara to captain for the upcoming World Twenty20 series in England, the sports minister said. 

The former vice captain will have spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan as his deputy, Gamini Lokuge said. 

Sangakkara, a stylish left-hand batsman and wicket-keeper, was the front-runner to succeed Mahela Jayawardene. 

Jayawardene stepped down as skipper after the two-Test Pakistan tour this month, which was abandoned because an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.