COLOMBO: All-rounder Angelo Mathews was named Sri Lanka Twenty20 captain on Wednesday for the next 12 months in an appointment which could lead to him taking over as leader of the Test side.

Mathews, 25, the Sri Lanka vice-captain in all three formats of the game, succeeds Mahela Jayawardene who resigned as T20 captain after his side lost this month's World Cup final to West Indies.

“We are giving Mathews a free hand to captain the T20 side for one year after which we will review his performance,” said chief selector Ashantha de Mel.

Mathews' first assignment will be to lead Sri Lanka in a one-off T20 international against New Zealand at Pallekele on October 30. Fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been named at the T20 vice-captain, also for a one-year term.