Sri Lanka recall Dilshan and Liyanage for ATC final

Middle order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan and pace bowler Dulip Liyanage have been recalled into Sri Lanka's14-man squad for the forthcoming Asian Test Championship final against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka will be hoping to extend a record winning to nine when they take on Pakistan at Gadafi Stadium in Lahore on 6-10 March in an ATC final supposed to identify the champions of Asia.

But the last-withdrawal of India, due to escalating tensions in Indian-ruled Kashmir, has condemned the tournament to being a flop, with little public interest and no sponsors.

Both teams beat Bangladesh convincingly last year and will be looking forward to finally finishing the tournament, which was first won by Pakistan 1999.

Indeed, for Sri Lanka, the game is an untimely interruption in their preparations for a tough tour to England starting April. The players have concentrated on their fitness during the last four weeks since the Zimbabwe tour and have only just started to train in the nets.

"Pakistan have been playing against West Indies and are in competitive mode, but we are in training mode and it's going to be tough," said coach Dav Whatmore.

Dilshan's inclusion in the squad in place of Chamara Silva, who dutifully carried the drinks during the West Indies and Zimbabwe tours without a single chance, comes after an impressive Sri Lanka A series against Kenya.

The Kalutura born right-hander, 25, burst on to the international scene in 1999 when he scored a brilliant 163 not out against Zimbabwe in his second Test. He was expected to secure a permanent place in the side, but struggled thereafter with a top score of 37.

Finally, after a disappointing England series last year when he scored just 41 runs in three innings, looking uncomfortable under the pressure applied by Nasser Hussain's side, he was jettisoned until his latest call-up.

Dilshan is unlikely to play with an established top seven all in form, but his sound technique against fast bowling makes him a likely tourist to England in April.

Liyanage, 29, gets his chance after injuries to Dilhara Fernando (back), Ruchira Perera (groin) and Prabath Nissanka (hamstring). Fernando is now well on the way to recovery from a stress fracture, whilst Perera and Nissanka only have slight strains.

Liyanage, considered a reliable swing bowler, with the ability to contribute with the bat, as he showed in the first unofficial ODI between Sri Lanka A and Kenya on Wednesday when he stroked an unbeaten 66, is also unlikely to play.

Whatmore is expecting a Lahore pitch with "plenty of pace" and "cold conditions" so the established trio of Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa and Charitha Buddika are favourites to make the starting line-up.

Sri Lanka will probably play just one spinner, Muttiah Muralitharan, unless conditions are markedly different than what they expect. Leg-spinning all-rounder Upul Chandana, so impressive against Kenya, travels as the reserve slow bowler.

Sri Lanka Test squad:

Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu (vice-captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Chaminda Vaas, Buddhika Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Upul Chandana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dulip Liyanage, Chandra Schaffter (manager), Dav Whatmore (coach), Alex Kontouri (physio)