Sri Lanka axe middle order trio for Sharjah Cup

Sri Lanka will announce a new-look one-day squad next week having axed the rump of their middle order for the forthcoming Sharjah Cup 2003.

Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Russel Arnold have all been left out of the 15-man squad after their lacklustre performance during the World Cup.

The middle order disappointed throughout the seven-week competition with the axed trio scoring just 289 runs in 24 innings with neither player passing fifty.

There are six changes in all with Aravinda de Silva having retired and star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan apparently "rested" after aggravating a longstanding groin injury.

Fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne, the most expensive of the seamers at the World Cup, is discarded but the selectors have retained Dilhara Fernando and Prabath Nissanka.

The six newcomers are all drafted in from the Sri Lanka A squad that recently lost a three-match series against the ECB Academy.

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

There are also recalls for all-rounders Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Dharmasena and Hasantha Fernando.

Sanath Jayasuriya will lead the side having being asked to continue as captain until after New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka in April and May.

The side leaves for the United Arab Emirates on Saturday with the first match in the triangular series also involving South Africa and Pakistan scheduled for April 1.

The squad will have to be cleared by the Sports Ministry.

Probable Sri Lanka squad:

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