Muralitharan and Sangakkara included in new Sharjah squad

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and middle order batsman Kumar Sangakkara have been included in an amended squad for the forthcoming quadrangular series at Sharjah.

Both Muraliltharan and Sangakkara had been surprise omissions from a 15-man squad selected last weekend that was rejected by Johnston Fernando, the Ministry of Sports.

Fernando refused to ratify the squad until the appointment of three new selectors, including Aravinda de Silva, who retired from all cricket after Sri Lanka's World Cup semi-final.

The selectors met on Friday evening, agreeing with the bulk of the changes, but including Muralitharan, who has assured the five-man panel of his fitness, and Sangakkara.

All-rounders Hasantha Fernando and Thilan Samaraweera, the A team skipper, were the players to miss out from the original squad.

Three players were axed from the World Cup squad, including middle order duo Russel Arnold and Mahela Jayawardene and fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne.

The squad includes three players without One-Day International experience: batsman Michael Vandort, wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene and leg-spinning all-rounder Kaushal Loukuarachchi.

The squad is scheduled to depart for the four-nation tournament also including Kenya, Zimbabwe and Pakistan on Tuesday morning.

Sri Lanka will play their first match against Pakistan on April 4.

Squad:

Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Hashan Tillakaratne, Jehan Mubarak, Avishka Gunawardene, Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Prasana Jayawardene, Kumar Dharmasena, Kaushal Loukuarachchi, Chaminda Vaas, Prabath Nissanka, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Buddhika Fernando