Sri Lankan selectors reward A team players

There are some new faces in the 16 man Sri Lankan squad announced today for the forthcoming series against Pakistan. The Sri Lanka side has become a settled unit in the last few months but the newly appointed selectors couldn't resist a little tinkering.

Five regular members of the "A" team have been rewarded for their performances against Zimbabwe A while Indika De Saram, T.M. Dilshan and Puspakumara have been dropped.

Marvan Attapattu, who has anchored the Sri Lankan batting in the last two test series has been rewarded with the vice captaincy, which had placed an undue burden on the shoulders of Mahela Jayawardena.

Jayawardena has had a torrid few months, has frequently been guilty of losing his wicket after playing himself in and is in desperate need of a big score to cement his place in the side.

As expected the selectors included both Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva in squad and Arjuna is certain to play despite having not played any competitive cricket since he sustained a multiple fracture of his finger in the last Pakistan series.

Whilst both Aravinda and Arjuna are a liability now in the field they are needed to bolster the batting. The youngsters in the side are not yet playing with the consistency that is required at this level and Aravinda remains the only player to be averaging over 40 in his last 15 test match innings. Arjuna is the second in the team averages.

While the old guns remain, youth has been given a chance as well with the selection of 20 year old fast bowler Dilhara Fernando. Dilhara was impressive in the recent Zimbabwe A series and has the potential to bowl genuinely quick. A strong man with a slingy action he predominantly moves the ball into the right handers and can extract surprising bounce. He is unlikely to play but may if the pitch still has some moisture in it.

Dilhara takes the place of Kaushalya Weereratne, who impressed in Dhaka but has broken a bone in his left hand and may have to fly to Australia to get a plate inserted. It is hoped that he will be fit in time for the forthcoming triangular series.

The talented and immensely entertaining Avishka Gunawardena makes a deserved return to the international fold after a string of swashbuckling performances during the past few months. He takes the place of Indika De Saram and T. M. Dilshan who have been in and out of the side for the last two series but both have failed to cement their places.

Gunawardena had become increasingly disenchanted after being written off by the previous selection committee, which had labeled him as a one-day player. Something of a maverick in the current set-up he is a dashing opener and the prospect of him playing alongside Jayasuriya is quite mouth watering.

Upul Chandana and Rangana Herath will be competing for the second spinners slot if they decide against using three seamers.

The pressure remains on Kaluwitharana, who needs to score more runs, with the selection of Kumar Sangakkara and Prassana Jayawardena.

Full Squad:

Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt.), Marvan Attapattu (VC), Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda De Silva, Rumesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Mutiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Kumar Sangakkara, Avishka Gunawardena, Prassana Jayawardena, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Upul Chandana