The good news was that teenage left-arm fast bowler Nuwan Zoysa passed a fitness test on a groin injury and will travel to the West Indies with the Sri Lanka team today.
The bad news is that Sri Lanka's ace strike bowler Chaminda Vaas is out of the Caribbean tour with a back injury.
As one could exult in Zoysa's fitness, there was much despondency over Vaas' inability to make the tour.
Vaas's absence is a major blow to Sri Lanka who are touring the West Indies for the first time since they became a full-fledged Test nation in 1982.
Vaas was declared unfit to undertake the tour which comprises apart from a one-off one-day international, two Tests against the West Indies.
The national selectors who met yesterday decided not to risk Vaas further by taking him to the West Indies and instead, named another fast bowler Ravindra Pushpakumara to take his place in the 15-member squad. Pushpakumara will leave for the West Indies on Tuesday.
With Sri Lanka having a heavy international schedule for 1997, the selectors decided to rest Vaas and have him fit for the Asia Cup which will be hosted by Sri Lanka from July 14 - 26. Holders India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the other participating countries in this tournament.
Sri Lanka also have five back to back Tests against India (2 at home and 3 away) apart from taking part in Pakistan's Independence Cup tournament in November, to complete their international program for the year.
Injury not serious
Sri Lanka's Australian-born physio Alex Kountouri said that Vaas's back injury was not a serious one, but what the fast bowler required was rest and treatment.
``His back is sore by bowling too much. By continuing to play him will only make it worse and affect his future. He needs about two to three weeks rest,'' said Kountouri.
Vaas will spend the next few weeks in Australia where he will be treated by specialists and given physiotherapy treatment.
Vaas complained of the injury during the Independence Cup match against India at Bombay, and aggravated it by playing in the match against New Zealand and the second final against Pakistan.
The 24-year-old left-arm fast bowler has been Sri Lanka's main strike bowler since he made his mark on the tour of New Zealand in 1995.
Vaas's average of 24.98 for 67 wickets in 18 Tests, and 25.22 for 88 wickets in 70 one-day matches with an economy rate of 3.87, ranks him amongst the top bowlers in the game today. His absence will be sorely felt in the Caribbean.