Colombo, Mar 29: Batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold have been dropped from Sri Lanka's squad for the four-nation Sharjah Cup, which starts next week. The pair have paid the price for undistinguished performances during the World Cup - Jayawardene scoring only 21 runs in seven innings and Arnold 92 in eight.
Seam bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne has also been left out, and veteran Aravinda de Silva has joined the selection panel after retiring from international cricket. The four players drafted in are batsman Michael Vandort, wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene and spin bowling all-rounders Kumar Dharmasena and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.
Only Dharmasena has previously played one-day international cricket, but Vandort demonstrated his potential by making 140 against Bangladesh in one of his two Test appearances so far. Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who has been struggling with a niggling injury, and Kumar Sangakkara have been restored to the squad after Sports Minister Johnston Fernando refused to ratify the original list of 15 names.
They have taken the places originally filled by Thilan Samaraweera and Hasantha Fernando.
Sri Lanka will play their opening Sharjah Cup match against Pakistan next Friday.
The side will again be captained by Sanath Jayasuriya, who was persuaded to carry on by cricket officials after initially tendering his resignation following the World Cup.
Zimbabwe and Kenya are the other teams involved after accepting invitations from the organisers following South Africa's withdrawal from what was initially scheduled as a triangular competition.
Sri Lanka squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Avishka Gunawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Prasanna Jayawardena, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Buddika Fernando, Kumar Dharmasena, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Muttiah Muralitharan, Michael Vandort.
Bureau Report