Bipin Dani
Sri Lanian team management has decided to withdraw five players including the regular captain Dimuth Karunratne from the present squad of 22 players, it is learnt here.
The team management had a discussion and the four players who have been withdrawn from the squad are : Kusal Mendis, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play the second Test against England at the same venue from 22nd January. It was left to the Head Coach Mickey Arthur to convey the news to the outgoing players, it is learnt here.
The meeting was also attended by the present captain Dinesh Chandimal and the regular captain Dimuth.
The three national selectors-Ashantha de Mel, Pramodya Wickramsinghe and Chaminda Mendis also discussed the composition of the team for the West Indies tour. The other four selectors who did not attend the meeting are for the junior and women’s cricket. The final selection for the Windies tour is likely to be made two weeks prior to the team departure. However, the selectors are believed to have shortlisted 34 players for the training and visa purpose.
The team will have a new manager on Windies tour, it has been reliably learnt. Ashantha De Mel has decided to skip this tour for personal reasons. He, however, will be available for the team selection from Sri Lanka.
