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| Sunday, 30 March 2003 |
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Youth given a break in Sri Lanka squad of 15 for Sharjah by Srian Obeyesekere After South Africa 2003 which has left several star studded nations striving to re-build from the setbacks in the aura of Australia's insulation once more as the undisputed world champions of one-day cricket, the desert ground of Sharjah, which will be the first take off since, sees a fairly new look Sri Lankan outfit. But this Sri Lanka squad has been arrived at after much controversy. From the wrangling of as to who sits in the chairs of selection to who should make the squad. The final 15, which finally received the approval of Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando yesterday, has undergone just two changes - Tilan Samaraweera and Hasantha Fernando making way for Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara from the first selection submitted by Chairman Guy de Alwis and Roger Wijesuriya which was rejected before being revised after three more selectors - Aravinda de Silva, Lalith Kaluperuma and Ashley de Silva joined the selection committee. Some of the striking inclusions based on youth are former Peterite allrounder Kaushal Lokuarachchi, wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, batsman Michael Van Dort, and the recall of long time discard Kumar Dharmasena whose last ODI was against Australia during the Mini World Cup hosted by Sri Lanka last year. Interestingly, the co-opting of Aravinda, who retired after the World Cup, in taking strike as a selector comes after some dissent between the Minister and cricket officials with the Minister having the final say in realising how invaluable the services of the ex-batting great would be to Lankan cricket. But there were no drastic changes from the previous selection which accentuated on giving youth a break which saw star batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold along with pace bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne axed with the exception being the re-naming of wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara who had not found the favour of De Alwis and Wijesuriya. The selections completed, left a Chairman of selectors with mixed feelings. Of dejectment over what he said was the Minister not being too much in favour of bringing on young blood. "The Minister I understood made out that Roger (Wijesuriya) and I had far too many youngsters. So he felt that 50 per cent of our first selections were wrong. But finally there was only one disputed change when all five selectors sat from the squad which Roger and I first picked. Sangakkara was brought in while Muralitharan who had been rested was recalled. So it can't be 50 per cent wrong", reasoned the Chairman of selectors when contacted by the Sunday Observer yesterday, saying he was therefore elated 'because we (5 selectors) did the same thing' rounded by the words, "We've done our job correctly". A selector who firmly believes in backing his decisions, De Alwis, the former Thomian who cut a niche as a hard hitting wicket-keeper batsman in the Rodney Marsh mould for Sri Lanka in the 1980's under Duleep Mendis, went on to strike a chord as to the future saying, "I'm definite that we have to think of the youngsters". Asked as to then what was the logic in retaining veteran batsman, Hashan Tillekeratne and why allrounder Upul Chandana had once again been overlooked, the chief selector said: "We thought we should retain Tillekeratne to strike a balance upto the New Zealand tour here. As for Chandana it was felt that we needed someone who could also bat which is why we opted for the youngster Kaushal Lokuarachchi". (Q): Would you say that Chandana is not good enough a batsman? (A): Yes, that's what we felt. (Q): Do you agree with Sanath Jayasuriya that we have to look at the 2007 World Cup from now? (A): "Without! If we don't start now when are we to? One day before the tournament? No, we have to give the youngsters a chance as of now. For instance, Jayasuriya has played some 300 odd ODI's and Mahela 150. But there are youngsters without even a single outing under their belt." (Q): Would you say the axing of some of the seniors would create healthy competition? Are you looking at the Australian example? (A): Exactly. That is what we are trying to achieve. It will not only help build young talent, it will also bring out the best from the discards who will be out to regain their places in the team." De Alwis also said he felt that it was the opinion that Mahela Jayawardene and Arnold needed a rest. Muralitharan had been initially rested on the advice of physiotherapist Alex Kontouri who had said he was nursing an injury. Asked whether he and his co-selectors received any remuneration for their job, the Chairman of selectors replied, "No. It is a thankless job". Confirming to the Sunday Observer that the Minister had finally given the nod to the squad was the Ministry Secretary, N. G. Punchihewa. The four-nation tournament will now see Kenya and Zimbabwe join Pakistan and Sri Lanka after South Africa pulled out due to security reasons with the outbreak of war in the region. To be staged from April 3 to 10 , minnows Kenya, which reached new heights in reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup while upstaging Sri Lanka, should be a key attraction as a dream team. In a four-member tour management announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) yesterday, two notable absentees from the one to the World Cup were Duleep Mendis, who served as Advisor which chore has been done away with, and Alex Kontouri, who is on leave visiting his native Australia with his Sri Lankan wife. Kontouri's job of physio has been entrusted to Priyantha Wickremasinghe. The squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu (v. capt), Avishka Gunawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakeratne, Prasanna Jayawardene, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Charitha Buddhika Fernando, Kumar Dharmasena, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Muttiah Muralitharan, Michael Van Dort. Team management: Dav Whatmore - Coach, Ajith Jayasekera - Manager, Priyantha Wickremasinghe - Physiotherapist, Sanath Jayasundera - Cadability Operator. |
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