Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] has been appointed Sri Lanka [ Images ] captain, the selectors confirmed on Wednesday.

Sangakkara, 31, the vice-captain since 2006, was the obvious heir apparent to Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ], who stepped down after the recent Pakistan tour which was abandoned when gunmen attacked the team bus on the way to the stadium in Lahore [ Images ].

Six players were injured and seven Pakistanis killed in the incident.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan [ Images ] has been appointed as Sangakkara's deputy.

Sangakkara's first tournament in charge will be the ICC [ Images ] World Twenty20 [ Images ] in England [ Images ] in June.

The selectors have also finalised a provisional 25-member squad for the tournament.

The final 15 will be picked after an Inter-provincial Twenty20 tournament which will be held from March 25 to April 5.

Squad:

Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya [ Images ], Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ], Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedera [ Images ], Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews [ Images ], Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara, Lasith Malinga [ Images ], Chaminda Vaas [ Images ], Ajantha Mendis [ Images ], Kaushal Weeraratne, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Chintaka Jayasinghe, Nuwan Zoysa, Gihan Rupasinghe, Thilina Kandamby, Malinga Bandara, Dilhara Fernando.