A 15-member Sri Lankan cricket team, led by Mahela Jayawardene, arrived
here today without key bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas,
to play against India a four-match ODI series beginning in Kolkata on February 8.
Off-spinner Muralitharan and left-arm pace bowler Vaas, Lanka's
most successful bowlers in one-dayers over more than a decade, are carrying
niggles and have been rested ahead of the March-April World Cup in the West
Indies.
The tourist, who will play other matches at Rajkot (Feb 11),
Goa (Feb 14) and Vishakapatnam (Feb 17), recalled left-arm pacer Nuwan Zoysa,
leg-spinner-cum-lower order batsman Upul Chandana, middle order batsman Russel
Arnold and medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera.
The series provides the last chance for both Lanka and India
to fine-tune for the World Cup, besides affording the islanders a chance to
avenge their 1-6 defeat in the previous series against the hosts last season.
The Squad: Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath
Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva,
Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando,
Malinga Bandara, Nuwan Zoysa and Nuwan Kulasekera.
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