The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has appointed the local umpires to officiate in next month's Test and One-day series between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
B. C. Cooray will stand in the first Test at the Asgiriya Stadium from January 7-11 with England's ICC appointed umpire, Mervyn Kitchen. Peter Manual will be the third umpire and D.N. Pathirana, the standby.
The second Test at the SSC from January 14-18 will have K.T. Francis standing with Pakistan's ICC appointed umpire Salim Badar. Ignatius Anandappa will be the third umpire and Udaya Wickremasinghe, the standby.
The appointments for the three one-day internationals are : (1st ODI at SSC on January 22) : Peter Manual and D.N. Pathirana, 3rd umpire - T.M. Samarasinghe, standby - Udaya Wickremasinghe, (2nd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium on January 24) : Ignatius Anandappa and Udaya Wickremasinghe, 3rd umpire - Peter Manual, standby T.M. Samarasinghe, (3rd ODI at SSC on January 26) : Peter Manual and T.M. Samarasinghe, 3rd umpire - D.N. Pathirana, standby Ignatius Anandappa. - [S.T.]
Arnold leads Board XI
The national selectors have laid emphasis in promoting bowlers with the future in mind, when they named a 14-member squad to represent the Sri Lanka Board XI in the 3-day game against Zimbabwe at Matara on January 2.
Three young promising fast bowlers and two leg-spinners form the squad which will be led by left-handed Test opener Russel Arnold.
Ajantha Lankathileke and Ruchira Perera, both left-arm fast bowlers and Suresh Perera (right-arm fast) along with leg-spinners Amal Dalugoda and Bathiya Perera are the bowlers on review during the match which will be the curtain-raiser for the New Year.
The squad is requested to report to manager Roy Dias for practices on December 26 at the NCC nets at 3 p.m.
The Sri Lanka Board XI (from): Russel Arnold (captain), Chaminda Mendis, Naweed Nawaz, Avishka Gunewardena, Sanjeeva Ranatunga, Varuna Waragoda, Bathiya Perea, Malintha Perera (wicket-keeper), Amal Dalugoda, Suresh Perera, Ruchira Perera, Ajantha Lankathileke, Indika de Saram, Tilan Samaraweera.
CCC wins
CCC led by former Nalandian cricketer Ranesh Handunneti won the Six-a-side tournament conducted by the Malay CC to celebrate their 125th anniversary at the Malay CC grounds.
In the final, CCC 48/2 (4.1) beat Briton SC 47.
Thanura Gunatilake who scored an unbeaten 25 in the final was presented the Man of the Final award. Shantha Kalawitigoda of SSC took the Best Batsman's award and Saluka Dissanayake of Bloomfield, the Best Bowlers' prize.
The CCC team comprised: Ranesh Handunetti (captain), Hemantha Alles, Thanura Gunatilake, Amila Suranga, Sriyal Silva and Dinesh Fernando.