Jayawardena, Sangakkara lead teams in today's game

CRICKET: The Sri Lanka cricketers in preparation for the forthcoming tour of India will play a warm up match today at the SSC grounds, Maitland Place.

Mahela Jayawardena will captain one side that includes Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Russel Arnold, Prasanna Jayawardena, Farveez Maharoof, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Nuwan Soysa, Malinga Bandara, Dilhara Fernando, Akalanka Ganegama and Jeewan Mendis.

Wicket keeper batsman Kumara Sangakkara will lead the other side that includes former skipper Marvan Atapattu, Chamara Kapugedera, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Gayan Wijekoon, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ishara Amarasinghe, Lasith Malinga and Ruchira Perera.

The Sri Lanka team will arrive in Mumbai on February 2 and will play a warm up match on February 5 at Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Sports Complex before leaving for Kolkatta the next morning.

The warm up match will be played between the Sri Lankans and a team comprising players of Mumbai who are not in the team for the Ranji Trophy final.

The opening match of the series will be a day-night fixture on February 8 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkatta. The second one day match of the series will be played in Rajkot on February 11, third in Morgao on February 14 and the fourth in Visakhapatnam on February 17.

The tour of India will be Sri Lanka's final international engagement before they embark on the Caribbean tour for the 2007 World Cup. This series is also quite significant as Sri Lanka and India are grouped together in Group 'B' of the 2007 World Cup along with Bangladesh and Bermuda.

C.D.