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by Elmo Rodrigopulle

'We will not be sending a replacement to South Africa, unless the management there, sends the injured player back'. This was the response from Anura Tennakoon, Chief Executive of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, when asked whether the request from the management in South Africa asking for a replacement had been considered.

'It was a policy decision made sometime back, that if a replacement is requested for, then the injured player has to be sent back', said Tennakoon, Sri Lanka's first captain to the World Cup in England in 1975. The request from the tour management in SA was discussed at the Interim Committee meeting held on Monday evening and it was decided to inform them about this decision.

It is surprising that the tour management was ignorant of this decision that was taken sometime back. The request for a replacement was a sequel to the injury to medium pacer Pulasthi Gunaratne.

Gunaratne has suffered a broken right index finger during Sri Lanka's victorious World Cup 'B' Group match against New Zealand in Bloemfontein.

When asked whether the Board had to bear the extra cost, in sending a replacement, the Chief Executive said that it was not so, but that it was a policy decision taken sometime back that if a replacement is asked for, then the injured player must be sent back.

Gunaratne who bowled splendidly in that game is expected to miss two games and be fit for the all-important clash against the West Indies later on.

Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya has said that Gunaratne's chances of being fit for the Windies game is good. If that is likely, then a replacement would not be required.

If a replacement is needed then as for us, the player should be the gangling fast man Nuwan Zoysa. Zoysa has been bowling beautifully in the domestic cricket. He was the first Sri Lankan bowler to take a hat-trick in Test Cricket. Zoysa was taken to Australia for the VB Series and after a game against Australia 'A' was unceremoniously dumped. On the fast, bouncy wickets in South Africa, Zoysa will be a difficult customer to face.

One hopes that the selectors will give this young left arm fast bowler the continuity and international exposure he requires to become a feared fast bowler. He has all the attributes of being one in the class of former Aussie left arm pacies Alan Davidson and Bruce Reid.

Former Sri Lanka coach, and Aussie Test Cricketer Bruce Yardley thought the world of Zoysa.

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