January 26, 2008

Sri Lanka Squad for Commonwealth Bank series 2008

Sri Lanka announced their 15 member’s team including six fast bowers for the CB series, which will start in next math in Australia.

They included Chaminda Vass, who took 387 ODI wickets, Lasith Malinga, a unique stylish fast bowler, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekera, Chanaka Welegedara and Ishara Amerasinghe.

Among these, left-armed Welegedara made his test debut against England few days ago during England tour of Sri Lanka. He took place instead of Dilhara Farnando, who is improving after his ankle operation. Muttiah Muralitharan is only spinner in the announced team.

In the last triangular VB series in Australia in 2005-06, Srilanka’s legspinner Malinga Bandara put important role taking second highest 14 wickets and helped to Sri Lanka to play final and runner-up to Australia. In that squad Malinga Bandara wasn’t considered in 11, he was as a super-sub. However his performance was incredible in that VB series.

Selectors said that Dilshan was included as a middle-order batsman and will not open although his score is very well in domestic limited-overs tournament that position.

Sri Lanka team leaved for Australia on 24 January will play two warm-up games against a Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval on 30 January and Tasmania in Hobart on February 2. They will face against India in their opening match in the CB Series in Brisbane on February 5.

Sri Lankan squad : Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Chanaka Welegedara, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof, Ishara Amerasinghe. Source CricInfo