Mahela leads Board XI

By SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

Friday 15, May 1998


The national cricket selection committee pursued with their policy of blooding youngsters when they put Mahela Jayawardena in charge of the Board President XI to meet New Zealand in the 3-day tour opener beginning at the Sara Stadium on Monday.

Former Sri Lanka Test batsman Sanjeeva Ranatunga who was named vice-captain is the only old face in the squad which is saturated by youth and includes S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia captain Upekha Fernando, and three other schoolboys - Benedictine all-rounder and Sri Lanka under 19 World Cup captain, Pradeep Hewage, St. Sebastian's College wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardena and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara from Kalutara. All four formed part of the Sri Lanka team which participated in the under 19 World Cup in South Africa early this year.

New Zealand are due on Saturday morning on a seven-week tour of Sri Lanka which will include three Tests, two 3-day matches and participation in three-nation Independence Cup which also features India.

The 14 member squad : Mahela Jayawardena (captain), Sanjeeva Ranatunga (vice-captain), Avishka Gunawardena, Upekha Fernando, Naveed Nawaz, Manoj Mendis, Prasanna Jayawardena, Tilan Samaraweera, Niroshan Bandaratillake, Mario Villavarayen, Ruchira Perera, Pradeep Hewage, Malinga Bandara, Hemantha Boteju.

IN 'A' POOL

Meanwhile, off-spinner Tilan Samaraweera and left-hand batsman Hemantha Wickremaratne have been added to the Sri Lanka 'A' pool which is preparing to receive South Africa in July.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 15 May1998 - 10:24