Calcutta: Former pacer Ashantha de Mel was reappointed as Sri Lanka’s chief selector on Thursday, 19 months after he was sacked amid accusations of inefficiency, favouritism and political bias. Sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage also named former internationals Amal Silva, Hemantha Wickramaratne and Don Anurasiri as members of the panel, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

The previous selection committee, headed by former captain Duleep Mendis, resigned.

A former sports minister sacked de Mel in May 2010, just nine months before a World Cup to enable a new selection committee under former star Aravinda de Silva to build a team for the tournament. Sri Lanka reached the final and lost to India.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Mahela Jayawardene is also likely to be asked to take over the captaincy from Dilshan after the South Africa tour, according to an agency report. When asked in Kimberley, on the eve of the fourth ODI, whether he would accept the offer, Jayawardene said, “I will have to think about it. I will need some time.”