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| 15 October 2004 | Friday | 29 Shaban 1425 |
Dilshan and Zoysa axed for Pakistan Tests
KARACHI, Oct 14: Sri Lanka on Thursday dropped out-of-form batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan and pace bowler Nuwan Zoysa for their forthcoming Test series against Pakistan, which starts next week in Faisalabad.
Dilshan, currently playing in triangular tournament, had passed 40 just once in the last 15 innings. The 27-year-old will return home after Saturday's final of the tri-series in Lahore along with fellow batsmen Avishka Gunawardene and Saman Jayantha, leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi and Zoysa, who has been recently confined to one-day arena only.
As widely anticipated, veteran wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana and fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who made a promising debut on the tour of Australia in July, have been recalled.
Batsmen Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak and the uncapped Ian Daniel have also been named in the Test squad. Kaluwitharana, the 35-year-old who has figured in 47 Tests, will take over the wicket-keeping gloves from Kumar Sangakkara, who is expected to bat at No 3, in the two Tests.
Samaraweera boasts a Test average of 50.69 with three centuries, all on home soil including one on debut against India at Colombo in August 2001. The left-handed Mubarak, who was born in Washington DC more than 23 years ago, played the last of his two Tests in Centurion almost two years ago.
Daniel, another 23-year-old, is a technically right-handed opening batsman who has on several tours with the Sri Lanka 'A' side in recent times. The five replacements are expected to arrive in Faisalabad, where the first Test begins from Wednesday, at the weekend. The second and final Test is scheduled for Karachi from Oct 28.
SRI LANKA TEST SQUAD: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Ian Daniel, Upul Chandana, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga.
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