It was a day of double delight for Karnataka medium pacer Venkatesh Prasad. He was recalled for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka starting later this month, and won the Arjuna award.

Is the number 16 lucky for him? First came the news that he has been included in the 16-member team, and hours later it was known that he was among the 16 Arjuna awardees announced for 2000-01.

"I am very happy to be back....I am eager to bowl," Prasad told reporters in Bangalore on getting the news. "I have been working on my fitness."

News of his inclusion in the team came in the midst of a match in the KSCA Diamond Jubilee All India tournament for the Coromandel Cement Cup. Prasad is a member of the KSCA XI, which is playing against Andhra in a three-day match of the tournament.

"The wickets in Sri Lanka are not very helpful for fast bowlers. But I will bowl a steady line and length and wait for the batsmen to make mistakes," he said.

© PTI