Atapattu pulls out of Bangladesh series

Marvan Atapattu cited 'personal commitments' for his withdrawal from the Bangladesh series © AFP Enlarge

Former Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman Marvan Atapattu has pulled out of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh citing personal commitments. Atapattu, 36 was named in the Test squad of 15 picked on June 13 for the three matches against Bangladesh beginning on June 25.

Kanagan Mathivanan, the Sri Lanka Cricket secretary, said that the board had received a letter from Atapattu that due to commitments he was unavailable for the Bangladesh series. Atapattu had however stated that he would be available for future series. Atapattu is currently in England playing club cricket for Lashings.

Although picked in the World Cup squad, Atapattu was not selected for any of Sri Lanka's 11 matches during the tournament held in the Caribbean. Atapattu was also left out of the one-day series that followed in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan.

The selection committee, headed by Ashantha de Mel, recalled Atapattu for the Bangladesh Test series. Sanath Jayasuriya, who is now expected to play just one-day cricket, was rested for the series and allowed to sign-up with English county Lancashire as their overseas replacement with Muttiah Muralitharan returning home for the Bangladesh series.

Mathivanan said a replacement for Atapattu would be named shortly.