Leaving out Vaas and Jayasuriya was emotional, says de Silva

Aravinda de Silva, now Sri Lanka's chief selector, has admitted it was a tough and emotional decision to leave out his former team-mates Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas from the squad for the World Cup. The two experienced hands had been included in the 30 probables for the tournament but were left out from the final fifteen.

"It was a very difficult decision and a very emotional moment for me when it was decided that Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas have to be left out from the World Cup squad," de Silva wrote in the Times of India. "They've been my team-mates for such a long time and they are such fabulous players with great records."

de Silva played alongside both Vaas and Jayasuriya in Sri Lanka's successful World Cup campaign in 1996, but in his new role as selector, said he had to do what was best for the team. "At the end of the day, as a selector, I have to do the right thing. I have to pick 15 of the best available players on current form. Taking that into account, I don't think it would have been possible to include them."