Ranatunga loses place
THE Sri Lanka selectors have dropped Arjuna Ranatunga, the cap-
tain, from their 26-strong squad for the tour of England, start-
ing next month.
A talented left-hand batsman, Ranatunga marked his debut in
Test cricket with a half century against England in Sri Lanka`s
first Test, in 1982, when he was 18. But his recent form has been
poor, and this has been attributed to his added responsibilities
as captain.
Ranatunga`s elder brother, Dhammika, who toured New Zealand
with Sri Lanka last January, has also been omitted. The selectors
have recalled three former test players, the opening batsman,
Brendon Kuruppu, the medium pacer, Saliya Ahangama, and the
left-arm spinner, Don Anurasiri.
They did not name a captain but the deputy captain, Aravinda de
Silva, is expected to be the choice.
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Sri Lanka have named Aravinda de Silva as captain and Asanka
Gurusinha as vice-captain for the tour of England which starts
next month.
Muttiah Muralitharan, an off spinner, aged 18, has been named in
Sri Lanka`s 16-man party for the tour of England which starts
next month
P A de Silva (captain), A P Gurusinha (vice-captain), R S Mahana-
ma, C Hathurusinghe, H P Tillekeratne, M Atapattu, S T Jayasuri-
ya, D S B P Kuruppu, R J Ratnayake, K Wijegunawardene, R Kaluvi-
tarana, H C P Ramanayake, M Muralitharan, A W R Madurasinghe, S D
Anurasiri, F S Ahangama.
Source :: The Times
Contributed by Gihan (Gihan.N.Wikramanayake@cm.cf.ac.uk)
