COLOMBO, March 31: Sri Lanka’s selectors defended their side for the forthcoming Sharjah quadrangular tournament on Monday after the initial squad, which left out off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, was rejected by the sports ministry.

Aravinda de Silva, who retired after the World Cup and joined the selection panel, said it was thought Muralitharan needed a rest because of a groin injury but that it was later decided the side could benefit from his presence.

“We needed to strengthen the bowling so the targets set won’t be too intimidating for the youngsters,” de Silva told a news conference.

Batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold, and fast bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne, were also dropped from the squad, but de Silva said he had high hopes for Jayawardene despite his poor World Cup.

“He will be in the side definitely for the next series. I felt he needed a break. I reckon he’s the best player we’ve got. In the next 10 years — he will be a better batsman than I was,” said de Silva, who scored 6,361 runs in Test cricket and is the third highest run-scorer in one-day history.

“We left him out of this tour just to get his mind out of the game and be fresh for New Zealand.”

New Zealand and Sri Lanka will play a Test series later in April.

The selectors were still unclear as to whether Sanath Jayasuriya would step down as captain after the Sharjah tournament. He tried to resign after the World Cup but was asked to remain by the sports ministry.—Reuters