Sri Lankan cricket selectors named two new players on Monday for the three-test series against Zimbabwe and packed the team with four fast bowlers. Right-hand batsman Chamara Silva and right-arm, fast-medium bowler Prabath Nissanka were named in a 14-member squad for the series starting on Thursday.

They replace all-rounder Suresh Perera and legspinner Upul Chandana from the squad that played the West Indies in a test series that Sri Lanka won 3-0. Silva, a stylish batsman, scored an unbeaten 127 for Sri Lanka Board XI against Zimbabwe, in a game that the home team won on Sunday.

During the past two years, Silva has played in eight one-day internationals and toured Zimbabwe and Sharjah with the national side in November. If he is named in the final 11, he will be making his debut for his country in test cricket. Nissanka, 21, made his one-day international debut in Sharjah in November and has played in three matches.

The selectors have also picked up four seamers for the squad -Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Buddhika Fernando and Nissanka, implying that they are looking toward the 2003 World Cup. Bureau Report