Drastic changes ahead of Bangladesh tour

BY SA'ADI Thawfeeq

DRASTIC changes are forthcoming ahead of Sri Lanka's cricket tour of Bangladesh later this month.

Sri Lanka are due to tour Bangladesh in mid-February for a series of three one-day internationals and two Tests.

With Sri Lanka facing a heavy international schedule for 2006, the national selection committee are looking ahead of managing the cricketers especially the senior ones to keep them fresh for the tougher tours.

After Bangladesh, Sri Lanka host Pakistan for a short series of two Tests and three one-day internationals in April before they embark on a full tour of England in May for three Tests and five one-day internationals.

Some of the senior cricketers who are likely to be rested are captain Marvan Atapattu and vice captain Chaminda Vaas. If that decision is taken then the selection committee will have to appoint a new captain.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is also expected to be rested for the one-dayers and considered only for the Test series while veteran cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya is likely to be retained for both forms of the game.

The focus for the Bangladesh tour is going to be on youth although a balance will be struck so as not to weaken the team too much by an over emphasis of it.

These hard line decisions come in the face of Sri Lanka's poor performances in India, New Zealand and Australia in the past three months where the selectors feel the time is ripe to make changes for the betterment of the game in the country.

The selection committee we understand is not going to be swayed by their decision to make changes for Bangladesh even if Sri Lanka make it to the finals of the ongoing VB series in Australia.

Sri Lanka are vying for a place in the final with South Africa. Host Australia have already qualified to play in the best of three finals.