Sri Lanka ring the changes
Monday, March 24 2003
Sri Lanka have named a provisional squad for the forthcoming Sharjah cup, including six changes from the side that reached the World Cup semi-final.
The squad, that needs clearance from the sports ministry, sees a return to the spin-based attack that the Sri Lankans have used in the past, with specialist batsmen and batting all-rounders making way for those that are more adept with the ball.
Top order trio of Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold and keeper Kumar Sangakkara are all out - having scored 289 runs between them all World Cup - and are joined on the sidelines by the retired Aravinda de Silva, seamer Pulasthi Gunaratne and rested off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
They are replaced by four bowling all-rounders in the shape of Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Dharmasena, Hasantha Fernando and uncapped Kaushal Loukuarachchi. Two further players with Test but not ODI caps and who, like Samaraweera, impressed for Sri Lanka 'A' against the England Academy are selected: batsman Michael Vandort and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Full Squad
*Sanath Jayasuriya
Marvan Atapattu
Hashan Tillakaratne
Jehan Mubarak
Avishka Gunawardene
Michael Vandort
Thilan Samaraweera
+Prasanna Jayawardene
Kumar Dharmasena
Kaushal Loukuarachchi
Chaminda Vaas
Prabath Nissanka
Dilhara Fernando
Hasantha Fernando
Buddhika Fernando
Posted by Neil
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