Mahela and Ishara in World Cup squad

Chris DHAMBARAGE

CRICKET: The national cricket selectors yesterday named two uncapped players in their thirty member squad in preparation for the World Cup limited overs tournament which will be worked off in the West Indies in March/April.

Opening batsman Mahela Udawatte of Chilaw Marians Sports Club and paceman Ishara Amarasinghe from Colts Cricket Club are the two new faces in the squad.

Both players have impressed a lot during the past few months where they excelled while representing the Sri Lanka 'A' team during their tours to the West Indies and India respectively.

Chairman national selectors Ashantha de Mel said that Ishara Amarasinghe is one of the brightest prospects and could be considered as one of the fastest bowlers in the local scene today.

De Mel said that Amarasinghe has been able to bowl at a pace of nearly 140 kilometres per hour and rated him in the class of Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga.

Amarasinghe the former Nalanda College captain has spearheaded the Colts CC attack quite successfully and also impressed during Sri Lanka 'A' team's tour of India where they emerged runners up in the Dulip trophy domestic tournament.

Opening batsman Mahela Udawatte of Chilaw Marians Sports Club is another promising player who has caught the eye of the selectors following some useful contributions with the bat.

The former Ananda College captain had a successful tour of India recently where he averaged over thirty runs in the Dulip trophy five day domestic championships.

The national selectors have also included two other promising fast bowlers Akalanka Ganegama and Dhammika Prasad in the squad while considering the fact that the wickets in the Caribbean would help the medium paceman.

Ganegama the NCC paceman captured a total of fifteen wickets in the Dulip trophy domestic tournament at 27.13 and had a best effort of four wickets for 47 runs.

Chairman national selectors De Mel said that by including quite a number of fast bowlers in the squad they have kept their options open with SSC paceman Nuwan Zoysa also joining the line up.

De Mel said that the team also need some experience in the bowling attack while making his comments on Zoysa who has now recovered from a series of injuries.

The national selectors also recalled left hand middle order batsman Russel Arnold and all rounder Upul Chandana both from NCC who have been also included in a 20 member Sri Lanka national pool in preparation for four one day internationals against India in February.

Arnold has been in excellent form this season and scored heavily during Sri Lanka 'A' teams's tour of the West Indies recently.

Upul Chandana too has forced himself into recognition following some outstanding performances with both bat and ball. Chandana too had a successful tour of India with the Sri Lanka 'A' team where they emerged runners up in the Dulip Trophy domestic tournament.

Also included in the national pool are three Sri Lanka 'A' players Malinda Warnapura, Gayan Wijekoon and Avishka Gunawardena.

The former had a fantastic tour of India recently where he emerged as the most successful batsman in the Dulip Trophy domestic tournament. Warnapura piled up a total of 421 runs including two centuries and two fifties to finish with a superb average of 105.25.

Sri Lanka have been drawn in group 'B' for the World Cup along with India, Bangladesh and Bermuda. Their opening fixture will be against Bermuda on March 15 at Port of Spain in Trinidad. Their second match will be against Bangladesh on March 21 at the same venue and will take on India in the final league match on March 23 at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

Sri Lanka will also play two warm up matches against Scotland on March 5 and against New Zealand on March 9 with both games in Barbados.

The Sri Lanka squad:

Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Avishka Gunawardena, Mahela Udawatte, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Malinda Warnapura, Russel Arnold, Prasanna Jayawardena, Chamara Silva, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Ruchira Perera, Dilhara Fernando, Ishara Amarasinghe, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Akalanka Ganegama, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Gayan Wijekoon, Upul Chandana and Dhammika Prasad.