Former Sri Lankan wicket-keeper may become a selector

Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella is expected to announce the names of Sri Lanka's national cricket selection committee shortly and among those in the running is former Sri Lanka Test wicket-keeper/batsman Amal Silva.

Silva is presently serving as the chairman of the umpires committee and if he gets the nod, will replace former selector Shammi Silva.

The strength of the selection committee will probably be reduced to four members if Lalith Kaluperuma is stopped from serving on it.

Kaluperuma, a former Sri Lanka cricketer, is a supplier of clothings to the cricket board and it is against the controlling body's principles that such people should not be serving it.

The other members of the five-man committee, which completed its term on April 30, are Tikiri Banda Kehelgamuwa, Brendon Kuruppu and Kapila Wijegunawardena, all three of whom are likely to be retained.

There is also a likelihood that a separate set of selectors will be named to concentrate on junior cricket.

This step, which the interim council is keen to implement, will greatly relieve the national selectors of their onerous task of having to keep a watch on all levels of cricket, which they have found virtually impossible to do over the past years.

The junior selection committee will concentrate on having people who are involved in coaching at junior levels and will be widespread. Some of the past Sri Lankan players whose names have been mentioned are Roger Wijesuriya, Don Anurasiri, Champaka Ramanayake, Jayantha Seneviratne and Ranjith Madurasinghe.

Last week the interim council of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) announced it various sub-committees who will be serving under the current administration headed by Vijay Malalasekera.