Pen-sketches of Sri Lankan cricketers

Karachi, Feb 5: The Sri Lankan cricket squad arrives here tomorrow (Sunday) on their fifth full tour of Pakistan - and first since the triumphant trip in 1995-96.

Following are the sketches of the touring players who have been selected for the one-dayers only (changes will be made in the squad for the Tests later).

Sanath Teran Jayasuriya. Captain. Born Matara, June 30, 1969. Left-handed batsman and slow left-arm bowler. Debut v Australia at Melbourne, 1989-90. 198 One-day Internationals, 5213 runs (ave 28.15) highest score 161 not out, seven centuries, 33 fifties, 69 catches, 174 wickets (ave 34.15), 5w three, best bowling 6-29.

Denagamage Proboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene. Vice-captain. Born Colombo, May 27, 1977. Right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm slow-medium bowler. Debut v Zimbabwe at Colombo, 1997-98. 38 One-day Internationals, 783 runs (ave 23.03), highest 120, two centuries, three fifties, 13 catches, six wickets (ave 70.73), best 2-56.

Russel Premakumara Arnold. Born Colombo, Oct 25, 1973. Left-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. Debut v South Africa at Lahore, 1997-98. 17 One-day Internationals, 519 runs Ave 39.92), highest 103, one catch, eight wickets (ave 40.00), best 2-32.

Marvan Samson Atapattu. Born Kalutara, Nov 22, 1970. Right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler. Debut v India at Nagpur, 1990-91. 89 One-day Internationals, 2539 runs (ave 32.55), highest 132 not out, two centuries, 19 fifties, 32 catches, 0-45 as a bowler.

Samantha Indika de Saram. Born Colombo, Sept 2, 1976. Right-handed batsman, occasional right-arm slow bowler/wicket-keeper. Debut v Australia at Galle, 1999-2000. five matches, 59 runs (ave 19.67), highest 27 not out, three catches.

Tillekeratne Mudiyansilage Dilshan. Born Kalutara, Oct 14, 1976. Right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm slow-medium bowler. Debut v Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, 1999-2000. Five One-day Internationals, 141 runs (ave 35.25), highest 53, one fifty, one catch.

Indika Sanjeewa Gallage. Born Panadura, Nov 22, 1975. Right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pacer. Debut v Zimbabwe at Harare, 1999-2000. one One-day International, 14 runs (ave 14.00), highest 14.

Romesh Shantha Kaluwitharana. Born Colombo, Nov 24, 1969. Right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper. Debut v India at Goa, 1990-91. 132 One-day Internationals, 2504 runs (ave 21.22), highest 100 not out, one century, 17 fifties, 155 dismissals (91 catches, 64 stumpings).

Muttiah Muralitharan. Born Kandy, April 17, 1972. Right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break. Debut v India at Colombo, 1993-94. 129 One-day Internationals, 185 runs (ave 5.44), 60 catches, 177 wickets (ave 27.44), 5w two, best 5-23.

Muthumudalige Pushpakumara. Born Sept 26, 1981. Left-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. Yet to play in One-day Internationals. Represented Sri Lanka in the recent Youth World Cup.

Karuppiahyage Ravindra Pushpakumara. Born Panadura, July 21, 1975. Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. Debut v India at Hyderabad (Deccan), 1993-94. 31 One-day Internationals, 36 runs (ave 9.00), highest 14 not out, eight catches, 24 wickets (ave 49.29), best 3-25.

Lindamlilage Prageeth Chamara Silva. Born Panadura, Dec 14, 1975. Right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm slow bowler. Debut v Australia at Colombo, 1999-2000, seven matches, 84 runs (ave 16.80), highest 54, one fifty, one catch.

Kalutarage Eric Amila Upashantha. Born Kurunegala, June 10, 1972. Right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler. Debut v Pakistan at Visakhapatnam, 1998-99. five One-day Internationals, 33 runs (ave 8.25), highest 15, one catch, four wickets (ave 63.00), best 2-52.

Warnakulasooriya Patabendige Upashantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas. Born Mattumgala, Jan 27, 1974. Left-handed batsman and left-arm fast-medium bowler. Debut v India at Rajkot, 1993-94. 126 One-day Internationals, 654 runs (ave 12.58), highest 33, 22 catches, 153 wickets (ave 28.43), best 4-20.

Gallage Pramodya Wickremasinghe. Born Matara, Aug 14, 1971. Right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler. Debut v Bangladesh at Calcutta, 1990-91. 35 One-day Internationals, 136 runs (ave 9.07), highest 21 not out, seven catches, 37 wickets (ave 30.16), best 4-48.

Demuni Nuwan Tharanga Zoysa. Born Colombo, May 13, 1978. Left-handed batsman and left-arm fast-medium bowler. Debut v New Zealand at Christchurch, 1996-97. 18 One-day Internationals, 42 runs (ave 7.00), highest 22, one catch, 17 wickets (ave 34.53), best 2-22.

Officials: T.B. Kehelgamuwa, who played in several unofficial Tests for Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) as a right-arm fast-medium bowler in the late 1960s and early 70s, is the team manager while former Australian batsman Dav Whatmore is the coach with Alex Countouri (for one-dayers only) and David Harris as physiotherapists.

Note: Eric Upashantha, who has been named as a standby, will only make the trip if in case Nuwan Zoysa fails a fitness before the team's departure from Colombo.