Sri Lanka fly in for World Cup warm-up

Sri Lanka see their tour to South Africa as vital to their 2003 World Cup chances, skipper Sanath Jayasuriya said on Tuesday.

"It's really great to be able to play five one-day internationals in South Africa with the World Cup coming up," he told reporters.

The trip also features two Tests.

The World Cup is to be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya in February and March.

The tour squad includes three uncapped players; all rounder Hasantha Fernando and fast bowlers Thilan Thushara Mirando and Tharanga Lakshitha.

Six bowlers have been picked, with Muttiah Muralitharan the only specialist spinner. Jayasuriya would have been his back-up but said he would not bowl because of a shoulder injury.

Pacemen Buddika Fernando, Ruchira Perera, Nuwan Zoysa, Ishara Amarasinghe and Eric Upashantha, all in the squad in England earlier this year, have been left out.

Also out of favour are middle-order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan and off-spinning all rounder Thilan Samaraweera, who averages 83 after 10 home Tests.

Squad:
Sanath Jayasuriya (captain),
Marvan Atapattu,
Kumar Sangakkara,
Mahela Jayawardene,
Russell Arnold,
Hashan Tillakaratne,
Jehan Mubarak,
Hasantha Fernando,
Chaminda Vaas,
Dilhara Fernando,
Sujeewa de Silva,
Chamila Gamage,
Thilina Thushara,
Tharanga Lakshitha,
Muttiah Muralitharan,
Prasanna Jayawardene.

Mail Cricket Editor