Kaluperuma back as chairman of selectors

IN another surprise move Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga replaced chairman of cricket selectors Ashantha de Mel with another former Sri Lanka cricketer Lalith Kaluperuma yesterday.

Three weeks ago the Minister praised the selection committee headed by De Mel and said that they had done a good job and he saw no reason to make any changes.

The Minister also reduced the seven-member selection committee to five by not retaining Ranjith Madurasinghe and De Mel.

Kaluperuma was earlier chairman of selectors before he was replaced by De Mel.

The newly appointed committee for 2005-2006 comprises: Lalith Kaluperuma (chairman), K.M. Nelson, Don Anurasiri, Pramodya Wickremasinghe and Shabbir Asgerally.