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by Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka cricket selectors recalled injury plagued right-arm fast bowler Dilhara Fernando to the 14-member squad for the ICC Champions trophy tournament in England next month.

Fernando (25) replaces left-hand batsman Thilina Kandamby from the Sri Lanka squad that won the Asia Cup at the beginning of the month.

Chairman of selectors Ashantha de Mel said that Fernando was included to give the captain Marvan Atapattu more options in bowling under English conditions.

"We have picked seven specialist batsmen, two all-rounders, four fast bowlers and one spinner. We expect the top six batsmen to score the runs which leaves the seventh spot for a fast bowling all-rounder (Farveez Maharoof) or a leg-spinning all-rounder (Upul Chandana)," said De Mel.

"Dilhara has been bowling well at the nets and he was impressive during the 3-day game against South Africa at the CCC. With Lasith Malinga still inexperienced Dilhara's inclusion gives the tour selectors a better option," he said.

Fernando who took three for 42 off 14 overs and bowled with good control and speed at the CCC, has been plagued by back injuries since he broke into international cricket four years ago. He overcame his latest injury a stress fracture in his back by making a few adjustments to his bowling run up and delivery to reduce the pressure in his back.

At his peak he was the fastest bowler produced by Sri Lanka and was clocked once in South Africa at 144 kph.

Apart from the inclusion of Fernando, the selectors have kept faith with the rest of the squad which went onto win the Asia Cup beating India in the final early this month.

Sri Lanka is drawn in Pool 4 of the competition with host England and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka's first match is on September 14 against Zimbabwe at the Oval and their second game is on September 17 against England at Rose Bowl (Southampton). Sri Lanka need to win both matches to top the Pool and proceed to the semi-finals, which is scheduled for September 21 and 22. The final will be played at the Oval on September 25.

SRI LANKA SQUAD FOR CHAMPIONS TROPHY IN ENGLAND

M.S. Atapattu, c

D.P.M. Jayawardene, vc (SSC)

S.T. Jayasuriya (Bloomfield)

D.A. Gunawardene (SSC)

W.S. Jayantha (Bloomfield)

K.C. Sangakkara (NCC)

T.M. Dilshan (Bloomfield)

U.D.U. Chandana (NCC)

M.F. Maharoof (Bloomfield)

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas (Colts)

D.N.T. Zoysa (SSC)

C.R.D. Fernando (SSC)

S.L. Malinga (Galle CC)

M. Muralitharan (Tamil Union)

Note: K.C. Sangakkara will keep wickets with T.M. Dilshan as understudy.

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