Selectors pick team on form:

Shashikala back in the saddle

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

All rounder Shashikala Siriwardena who faced a one year ban due to disciplinary issues has been yet again named the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team for the ICC Women's Cricket Challenge in South Africa replacing former skipper Chamani Senevirathne.

The tournament, which will be held in Potchefstroom, South Africa, will bring together teams ranked between fifth and 10th place in the world to compete in a series of One-Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 matches.

Teams competing in the tournament include the host nation, South Africa, event favourites, West Indies, as well as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ireland and Netherlands.

The selectors have rewarded the players who performed well in the recently concluded ODI domestic competition by adding the best bats woman veteran Suwini De Alwis, the prolific Sandamali Dolawatta who won the Player of the Tournament award in the Domestic T 20 tournament and also the best bowler of the T 20 tournament Udeshika Probodini to the squad.

The selectors have made three changes to the squad which toured to the Caribbean for the T 20 World Cup in April.

Another Ex- Skipper Chamari Polgampola who was dropped, makes a return to the team while Lasanthi Heenatigoda and Sanduni Abeywickrama are the only new faces in the squad.

Sri Lanka will be banking on skipper Shahikala,the experienced Suwini, the consistent Sandamali and their strike bowler Udeshika Probodini to deliver the goods for them. Sri Lanka: Shashikala Siriwardana, Chamari Athapaththu, Suwini de Alwis, Chamani Seneviratne, Sandamali Dolawatta, Eshani Lokusooriya, Sripali Weerakkody, Dilani Manodara, Hiruka Fernando, Deepika Rasangika, Chamari Polgampola, - air force Udeshika Prabodhani, Lasanthi Madushani Heenatigala - marians and Sanduni Abeyawickrama - air force .

Chamari Polgampola - age - 29 years. Left hand bat,Right arm medium fast.

(Air Force)

Another experienced campaigner and a former skipper, Chamari has represented Sri Lanka in a number of ODIs and Sri Lanka would hoping that she would contribute with both bat and ball.

Udeshika Prabodini age 24 years Right hand bat,left arm medium.

(CCC Women)

Udeshika is one of the best fast bowlers in the Sri Lankan team and would spearhead the fast bowling attack. She took 15 wickets in the Limited Overs tournament. She was outstanding in the domestic T 20 competition representing Colts with some fine bowling performances and aggressive stroke play. She captured an amazing 7 wickets for just 5 runs against Moratuwa Women and was the only bowler to take a five wicket haul in the competition.

Eshani Lokusooriya, age 25 years, right hand bat, right arm medium.

(Marians Ladies)

Eshani is a fast bowling all-rounder renowned for her attacking stroke play. She has represented Sri Lanka in many ODIs and she scored 197 runs in 6 innings in the Limited Overs tournament with a sparkling strike rate of 138.

Sripali Weerakkody, age 24 years, left hand bat, right arm medium.

(Colts Cricket Club Women)

Sripali who represents Colts is the opening bowler of Sri Lanka and shares the new ball with Udeshika Probodini. She took 12 wickets in the Limited Overs tournament.

Sandamali Dolawatta, age 27 years, right hand bat, leg break

(Colts Cricket Club Women)

Sandamali has been in amazing form this season and was adjudged the player of the tournament and also won the award for the best bats woman in the T 20 competition for her wonderful all-round performances.

She captained the star studded Colts Cricket team which won the competition as well.

She scored 297 runs in 9 games for her side in the Limited overs tournament.

Hiruka Fernando, age 33 years, left hand bat, slow left arm

(Colts Cricket Club Women)

Hiruka has played the most number of ODIs for Sri Lanka and is nearing 1000 runs in the One Day format. She was second highest run getter of the Limited Overs tournament with 320 runs in 9 matches.

Chamari Atapattu, age 20 years, left hand bat, right arm medium.

(Air Force)

Another promising youngster in the squad. She will open the batting for Sri Lanka.

Sanduni Abeywickrama - age 27 years, right hand bat, right arm off spin

(Air Force)

She is making a comeback to the team after her wonderful performances for Air Force who were the "B" division champs.

Deepika Rasangika age 26 years left hand bat, right arm medium fast.

(Colts Cricket Club Women)

She is the additional keeper of the side.

Lasanthi Madushani Heenatigala - age 23 years,right hand bat,right arm fast.

(Marians Ladies)

She would be hoping to make her debut for Sri Lanka. She was the 4th highest run getter in the limited overs tournament with 279 runs.