Desperate Lankans recall Aravinda De Silva

Paul Martin in Cape Town

Batting ace and former captain Aravinda De Silva has been recalled to join the troubled Sri Lankan tour of South Africa, tour manager Ajit Jayasekara told rediff.com on Sunday.

Jayasekara said the intention was "to throw him in at the deep end" by playing him in the forthcoming one-day international series against the rampant South Africans.

"If he makes it in time, we could pick him on Thursday," Jayasekara said, referring to the second one-day international. The first is being played on Tuesday, January 9. The Sri Lankans are reeling from South Africa's record victory by an innings and 229 runs in the second Test, achieved within three days at Newlands, Cape Town.

"We desperately need to strengthen our batting line-up and that is what Aravinda will do," Jayasekara said. "He has saved our side on many occasions in the past and could do so again."

Asked whose place he would take, Jayasekara ruled out speculation that the captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, would make way for De Silva. "Sanath is one of our greatest batsmen. Give him just 20 minutes to get adjusted at the wicket and he'll set the field on fire," he said.

De Silva's selection will be seen in international cricket circles as highly controversial, given that he has been named in the match-fixing reports. So far the official position of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board is that players are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This charitable approach, though legalistically correct, has not been adopted by the International Cricket Council. India has four players suspended and South Africa has one banned as a result of the match-fixing scandal.

rediff.com also understands that Upul Chandana, the all-rounder who broke a finger and is to return home, will see a specialist in Cape Town on Wednesday before leaving for Sri Lanka.

Mail Cricket Editor