COLOMBO, June 18: Former captain Marvan Atapattu faces possible disciplinary action after opting out of Sri Lanka’s forthcoming cricket Test series against Bangladesh. Atapattu, 36, was recalled to the Test squad for the first time in 18 months earlier this month but later sent an e-mail to the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which said he was unable to play due to personal reasons.

The right-handed opener, who has an annual contract with the SLC, is currently playing club cricket with Lashings, a celebrity team that tours England playing invitation and charity matches.

“This tour was a great opportunity for Atapattu to get back in the team and we are disappointed that he has made himself unavailable,” SLC Secretary K. Mathivanan said. “The board will meet shortly and we will have to see whether he has violated his annual contract — if he has then we will have to take action.”

Atapattu’s decision followed a frustrating World Cup on the sidelines as he failed to play a single game despite regaining full fitness after a back operation in May 2006.

He was subsequently left out of a three-match ODI series against Pakistan in Dubai, although the selectors made it clear that he remained part of their future plans for the Test team.

Atapattu is vastly experienced in the Test arena having scored 5,330 runs in 88 Tests, hitting 16 centuries and 15 half-centuries.—Reuters