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| Wednesday, 28 May 2003 |
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Nawaz, Dinusha recalled for Caribbean one-dayers by Sa'adi Thawfeeq Left-hand middle-order batsman Naveed Nawaz of NCC and right-arm fast-medium bowler Dinusha Fernando from Sebastianites were the two changes the Sri Lanka selectors made in naming a 15-member one-day squad for the tour of the West Indies starting next month. Otherwise, there was no real surprises to the one-day squad which comprised all the players who represented the country in the recently concluded Bank Alfalah Cup tri-nation series held in Dambulla, where Sri Lanka as the host nation disappointed by failing to qualify for the final. New Zealand won that contest beating Pakistan. Sri Lanka play West Indies in a three-match one-day international series starting June 11 before meeting them in two Tests. Nawaz (29) replaces the out-of-form Russell Arnold who finds himself left out of a tour for the second successive time after the 2003 World Cup. He was also dropped from the squad that failed to make the final in Sharjah. Nawaz who made two of his three one-day international appearances for his country in the NatWest triangular in England last year has been a consistent performer for NCC in the domestic scene is recalled to boost the wobbly middle-order which has not found suitable replacements following the retirements of Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga and Roshan Mahanama. The poor form of Arnold who has somewhat shored the batting in the middle has also contributed to the team's abject performances both away and at home. Dinusha Fernando replaces Kaushalya Weeraratne in the squad. Like Nawaz, Fernando has been a consistent performer in the domestic sphere and although he has been picked to represent Board teams against touring sides, has never proceeded beyond that point to earn national recognition. He will join Chaminda Vaas, Prabath Nissanka and Darshana Gamage in the fast bowling quartet. Chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma said that fast bowlers Dilhara Fernando and Nuwan Zoysa were not considered for selection. He said that Fernando had not fully recovered from his injured back and Zoysa was still short of his true form. The team was picked after two one-day practice games. Marvan Atapattu has been retained as Sri Lanka's one-day captain with Mahela Jayawardene who turned 26 yesterday, as his deputy. A three-day practice game is scheduled for next week to finalise the Sri Lanka Test squad for the West Indies. Kaluperuma said that Test captain Hashan Tillakaratne who is short of match practice, and the performances and fitness of players like Tilan Samaraweera, Lanka de Silva, Dilhara Fernando, Zoysa and Ruchira Perera will be looked at closely before finalising the Test squad which will comprise 16 players. He said the Test squad will be named before the third and final one-day international against the West Indies at St. Vincent on June 11. The first two one-day internationals are scheduled at Bridgetown, Barbados on June 7 and 8. The two Tests will take place at St. Lucia from June 20-24 and at Jamaica from June 27-July 1. BATSMEN Age ODIs Marvan Atapattu (SSC), c 32 197 Mahela Jayawardene (SSC), vc 26 144 Sanath Jayasuriya (Bloomfield) 33 304 Kumar Sangakkara (NCC) 25 92 Tillakaratne Dilshan (Bloomfield) 26 20 Naveed Nawaz (NCC) 29 3 FAST BOWLERS Chaminda Vaas (Colts) 29 224 Prabath Nissanka (Bloomfield) 22 21 Darshana Gamage (Bloomfield) 24 1 Dinusha Fernando (Sebastianites) 23 0 ALL-ROUNDERS Kumar Dharmasena (Bloomfield) 32 135 Upul Chandana (Tamil Union) 31 103 Kaushal Lokuarachchi (Bloomfield) 21 5 SPINNER Muttiah Muralitharan (Tamil Union) 31 220 WICKET-KEEPER Romesh Kaluwitharana (Colts) 33 183 |
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