da imperador bet： Sri Lanka’s selectors have drafted in six fresh players for the five-matchone-day series against South Africa that follows the second Castle Lager/MTNTest at Centurion starting Friday
Charlie Austin14-Nov-2002Sri Lanka’s selectors have drafted in six fresh players for the five-matchone-day series against South Africa that follows the second Castle Lager/MTNTest at Centurion starting Friday.As expected, veteran batsman Aravinda de Silva, who retired from Test cricketin October, joins the 16-man squad along with one-day specialists UpulChandana and Pulasthi Gunaratne, both of whom were in the ICC ChampionsTrophy squad.Off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera is called up as a replacementfor Muttiah Muralitharan, who will undergo a hernia operation shortly afterfinal Test and will be out of action for between four and six weeks.Avishka Gunawardene, a powerful left-handed opening batsman discarded afterSri Lanka’s tour of England, earns a recall as a straight replacement forSanath Jayasuriya, who injured ligaments in his right ankle on Tuesday andis doubtful for the early games.In the pace bowling department, the final place goes to 22-year-old PrabathNissanka, who won the last of his four caps in December 2001 and getsanother chance after his impressive form in this year’s domesticcompetition.Kumar Sangakkara is the only specialist wicket-keeper in the squad. JehanMubarak will deputise if he is injured.Chairman of the selectors, Guy de Alwis, currently in South Africa with theteam, said: "We have a picked a balanced side. This series will be a goodtest for the youngsters. We are looking particularly closely at the fastbowlers as we look forward to the Australian series and the World Cup."Fast bowlers Sujeewa de Silva, Tharanga Lakshitha, Thilan Thushara Mirandoand Ruchira Perera all return home, along with left-handed middle orderbatsman Hashan Tillakaratne and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.The players are due to arrive in South Africa on Monday.Sri Lanka have one practice game in Potchefstroom before ODIs inJohannesburg, Pretoria, Benoni, Kimberly and Bloemfontein.Full squad:Sanath Jayasuriya (Capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold,Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Avishka Gunawardene,Hasantha Fernando, Upul Chandana, Thilan Samaraweera, Pulasthi Gunaratne,Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage Lakshitha, Prabath Nissanka