Lanka announce team for Sharjah

Sri Lanka have retained Romesh Kaluwitharana, who hit a sparkling unbeaten century against England last week, for the upcoming Sharjah tournament with Pakistan and New Zealand, the cricket board said on Monday.

Kaluwitharana, who was dropped for the Test series with England after a weak showing in South Africa, hit an unbeaten 102 to power Sri Lanka to a 10-wicket victory over England and a 3-0 sweep of the one-day internationals.

The other teams in Sharjah are Pakistan and New Zealand, who replaced India after they were pulled out of the tournament by the Indian government.

Also selected by Sri Lanka for the April 8-20 tournament, is Mahela Jayawardene, who hit an unbeaten 101 as Sri Lanka beat England in their second one-dayer.

Sri Lanka won the one-dayers after losing the Test series 2-1 to England.

The naming of the squad was the first action of an interim committee appointed last week after the country's sports minister sacked the under-fire cricket board.

The squad

Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Kumar Dharmasena, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Indika de Saram, Tilan Samaraweera, Akalanka Ganegama, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando.

Mail Cricket Editor