Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga has suggested South Africa will secure a semi-final berth at the World Cup in the United Kingdom later this year.

Sri Lanka were whitewashed five-nil in the ODI series earlier this year – and will face the Proteas in three T20Is this month. They will meet again in the global showpiece at Chester-le-Street in Durham on 28 June.

‘In the World Cup there will be similar conditions and they have very good fast bowlers who are intelligent and have skill,’ said Malinga.

‘They know how to use that skill, and that’s the important thing. They have wicket-taking options and they have a good bowling unit.

‘In the World Cup you never know what can go on. Whoever does best on the day will win. South Africa have good, fighting characters and match winners that the team need. I think they have a good chance to get into the top four.’

Newlands in Cape Town, SuperSport Park in Centurion and the Wanderers in Johannesburg will host the three T20Is. The hosts have named a relatively new-look squad, which includes the uncapped Sinethemba Qeshile.

The veteran JP Duminy, who will retire from ODI competition after the World Cup, will captain the T20I in the absence of the rested Faf du Plessis. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada have also been rested.

Photo: Gallo