Sri Lanka name 18-man squad

Injuries to two key players, Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas, have forced Sri Lanka's selectors to name an expanded squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan, which gets underway at the SSC on Sunday.

Both players have been named in an unusually large 18-man squad, subject to fitness. Sri Lanka normally goes with a 15 or 16-man squad for a Test series, but Michael Vandort and Ian Daniel have been included as standby openers if Jayasuriya fails to recover from a thigh strain.

Nuwan Kulasekera and Dammika Prasad, meanwhile have been named as cover for Vaas who is suffering from a side strain. Jayasuriya and Vaas were left out of the recently concluded one-day series which Pakistan won 2-0.

Sri Lanka's stand-in captain, Mahela Jayawardene, said on Wednesday that Jayasuriya had more chance of playing in the first Test than Vaas.

"Sanath is recovering very well," said Jayawardene. "If he thinks that he can manage a Test match and the physio also agrees, we will include him. We still have three more days to go. He is an experienced cricketer and we definitely would like to have him."

"We don't want to take any risks with Vaasy. Unless he is 100 percent fit we don't want to play him. He is very important for the England tour."

Another fast bowler, Ruchira Perera, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, has been ruled out of the series.

Squad (subject to Sports Ministry ratification) Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Michael van Dort, Ian Daniel, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dammika Prasad, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara, Sajeewa Weerakoon.