Aravinda De Silva dropped from Sri Lanka squad

Aravinda de Silva is the one notable absentee in the squad for the forthcoming Sri Lankan tour of South Africa. The 16-man squad is captained by Sanath Jayasuriya and represents a bold investment in youth.

The national selectors will have considered long and hard the value of an experienced player to bolster the middle order. Both Hashan Tillerkeratne and Aravinda de Silva have started the Premier Limited Overs Tournament in good form and one of them was widely expected to travel to South Africa.

However, the selectors have put their faith in some of the young players now emerging. The average age of the squad is just 26.

The fact that de Silva was mentioned in the Central Bureau of Investigation Report (CBI), which was released in India last week, will not have helped the veteran batsman.

Sri Lanka will play three test matches and six one-day internationals in the seven-week tour.

Kumara Sangakkara, Avishka Gunawardane and Thillakarathne Dilshan will be competing for the two vacant middle order slots. Russel Arnold may well slip down the order to number six, a position in which he has excelled in one-day cricket.

The fast bowling department sees the return of Dilhara Fernando. The 20-year-old fast bowler played in one test match against Pakistan at the Sinhalese Sports Club. He forms part of a five man fast bowling unit that includes Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Pramodya Wickramasinghe and young Kaushalya Weereratne.

The Sri Lankan's are unlikely to field two specialist spinners on the relative quick tracks in South Africa, especially when both Jayasuriya and Arnold can provide variation. However, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara and Upul Chandana have been included in the squad, ostensibly for back-up and the one-day internationals.

Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt.), Marvan Attapattu, Russel Arnold, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Avishka Gunawardane, Thillakarathne Dilshan, Romesh Kaluwithrana, Upul Chandana, Mutiah Muralitharan, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushalya Weereratne, Pramodya Wickramasinghe.