Sri Lanka name three uncapped players

Sri Lanka have started to rebuild for the 2007 World Cup with the selection of three uncapped players for the forthcoming five-match series against Zimbabwe.

The 16-man squad includes Rangana Herath, a left-arm spinner who has played four Test matches, Farveez Maharoof, a 19-year-old fast bowling allrounder, and Thilina Kandamby, a 21-year-old batsman who has starred for the A team in recent tours.

The squad, captained by Marvan Atapattu, the newly appointed Test captain, also includes Dilhara Fernando, who has recovered from a back injury and proved his fitness during the ongoing Sri Lanka A series in New Zealand.

Mahela Jayawardene, as expected, has been named as the vice-captain. Changes are expected for the two-match Test series that follows. The first one-dayer will be played in Bulawayo on April 20. The squad is subject to ratification by the sports ministry,

Sri Lanka squad:

Marvan Atapattu (capt), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Saman Jayantha, Thilina Kandamby, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana, Rangana Herath