COLOMBO, Dec 8: Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda De Silva will not play in the first leg of an upcoming triangular one-day series in Australia, also featuring England.

De Silva has cited personal reasons for his unavailability, officials said here on Sunday.

De Silva is expected to join the team later in the tournament, but the Sri Lankan team’s problems have been compounded as prolific off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is still recovering from a hernia operation.

The tournament commences in Sydney on December 13.

De Silva averaged just over 18 runs, failing to score in the last two games.

A cricket board source told AFP that De Silva’s absence may present an oppurtunity for wicketkeeper-batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana, who has fallen out of favour with the selectors.

Kaluwitharana, a vital member of Sri Lanka’s triumphant 1996 World Cup squad, was dropped from the preliminary squad of 30 players named

for next year’s tournament.—AFP