Two changes made to Sri Lanka selection committee

Sports Minister Lakshman Kiriella made two changes to the national cricket selection committee by including former Sri Lanka Test wicket-keeper/batsman Amal Silva and former Bloomfield, Air Force and CCC cricketer K.M. Nelson.

Silva and Nelson replace Shammi Silva and Lalith Kaluperuma respectively from the five-man committee which completed its term at the end of April. The new committee comes into immediate effect.

Three members of the former committee - Tikiri Banda Kehelgamuwa, Brendon Kuruppu and Kapila Wijegunawardena - have been retained.

Kehelgamuwa, a former Sri Lanka fast bowler, continues his position as chairman of selectors.

Silva joins Kuruppu and Wijegunawardena as the three people who have represented the country at Test level in the selection committee.

Silva played for his country in nine Tests as a left-hand opening batsman and wicket-keeper, scoring 353 runs (avg. 25.21) including two centuries, one of which was made on his first appearance at Lord's against England in 1984. He also claimed 34 victims (33ct, 1st) behind the wicket and played in 20 One-Day Internationals.

Silva is presently the chairman of the umpires committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (BCCSL) interim committee.

Nelson has been on the national selection committee on two previous occasions. A former cricket administrator who had served the Cricket Board in different committees, he is presently the chairman of selectors of the Mercantile Cricket Association, of which he was once president.

The first priority of the new selection committee will be to pick the captain of the Sri Lanka A team which will come up against Pakistan A in a series of three unofficial Tests and three unofficial One-Day Internationals starting next month.

They will also have to name the senior squad to commence training for the forthcoming home Test series against India and the one-day triangular series against India and New Zealand which begins on June 18 with the Test series to follow from August 14.