Selectors recall Wickramasinghe for Sharjah, England

Selectors recall Wickramasinghe for Sharjah, England
Sa'adi Thawfeeq - 18 January 2002

The Sri Lanka selectors have recalled fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe to the national squad of 16 picked for training for the visit to Sharjah in April and the tour of England from May to July.

Wickramasinghe (30) fell out of favour with the previous selection committee after a shoulder injury, after which he was not selected. He played the last of his 40 Tests almost a year ago against South Africa at Centurion Park. His selection is the only surprise in the squad, which otherwise consists of proven ability.

However, Wickramasinghe cannot be guaranteed a place in the final 14 to Sharjah or the final 16 to England because of the emergence of young fast bowlers like Dilhara Fernando and Buddhika Fernando and the re-emergence of a fully fit Nuwan Zoysa in the past couple of years. But he should be thankful that he has been given the opportunity to make an effort to get there.

Dilhara and wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana along with batsman Aravinda de Silva have been retained in the squad. Neither figured in the Tests nor the one-day internationals played recently against the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Dilhara is recovering from a stress fracture in his back. According to selection committee sources, who have been advised by national team physio Alex Kountouri, Dilhara is prone to the injury because of his bowling action. In the event, the selectors are unlikely to rush him in for Sharjah, but may bide their time and get him fit for the sterner tests against England.

Kaluwitharana is also returning from injury, having recovered from a broken finger. De Silva (as reported earlier) has been told by the selectors that he would be considered for England if he gets himself fully fit. A deadline for March 31 has been given to him and he is expected to work closely with Kountouri. The rest of the squad remains the same.

A cricket board release states that the squad will be reconstituted for final selection at the end of the Sri Lanka A series against Kenya in February.

Sri Lanka squad of 16 for Sharjah and England: Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Tilanv Samaraweera, Aravinda de Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Buddika Fernando, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kumar Dharmasena, Pramodya Wickremasinghe.

Teams	Sri Lanka.
Players/Umpires	Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Tharindu Samaraweera, Aravinda De Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Krishan Dharmasena.