Atapattu and Murali back for last one-dayer

Marvan Atapattu, Muttiah Muralitharan and Nuwan Zoysa have been included in Sri Lanka's 12-man squad for the last one-day international against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. All three had been rested for the fourth match, which Sri Lanka won by 72 runs to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match series.

Meanwhile, there was speculation on Tuesday evening that some of Zimbabwe's rebel cricketers would turn up for practice, but none of them showed up, which means that Zimbabwe will field a second-string side yet again.

Geoff Marsh, their coach, was confident that the white players would return to the team soon: "There was word around yesterday that the guys were ready to come for training this morning but they haven't and they are not available for the game tomorrow. I believe that everything is basically pretty well sorted out and it is just a couple of more hurdles to clear. I am sure we will get them all back."

A win at Harare will give Sri Lanka a 5-0 series win and ensure that they remain in third place in the ICC one-day international rankings. Currently, both Sri Lanka and New Zealand have 109 points. A win will take Sri Lanka to 110, but a defeat will push them back into fourth place, behind New Zealand.

Atapattu was critical of the ICC points system, saying that it was unfair for them to gain just one point after beating a side 5-0. "It's unfair that we should win all the matches against Zimbabwe or we will go down in the rankings. By saying that they are forcing us to play our best team against this weak Zimbabwe XI."

Sri Lanka played their best side for the first three games of the series, but rested Atapattu, Muralitharan, Zoysa, Chaminda Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya for the next match. The first three names are expected to return for the last match, but Jayasuriya will sit out, while an ankle injury has ruled Vaas out as well. Sri Lanka will also miss Kumar Sangakkara, who twisted his knee while keeping wicket on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka (from) Marvan Atapattu (capt), Saman Jayantha, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan (wk), Russel Arnold, Thilina Kandamby, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Zoysa, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath.