Selectors refuse request for extra fast bowler

The national selectors have turned down a request for an additional fast bowler by the Sri Lanka tour management in South Africa. The President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, Thilanga Sumathipala, has confirmed that a request came from the Sri Lanka team manager, Ajit Jayasekera, and it was referred to the national selectors.

Sumathipala said the selectors were of the view that the team picked for the tour had sufficient fast bowlers and there was no necessity to make any further additions. He also stated that the selectors felt a replacement or an additional player can be sent only in the event of an injury or on disciplinary grounds.

The Sri Lanka team of 16 players comprises five fast bowlers - Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Dilhara Fernando and Kaushalya Weeraratne. Sri Lanka began the first of a series of three tests against South Africa at Durban on Tuesday.