Bipin Dani
Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will travel to Zimbabwe, where Sri Lanka is set to play the World Cup qualifying matches, it is learnt. According to the sources in the SLC, the 46-year-old Mahela will be with the team as a consultant coach.
The squad will leave for Zimbabwe on 9th night / 10th (morning) June. It is still not known whether a squad of 15 or 16 players will be boarding the flight but it is almost confirmed that those who were selected for the recent ODI series against Afghanistan are retained.
Sri Lanka had won the three-match ODI series with 2-1 and the winning combination of 16-players after losing the first ODI was retained. However, if the 15-players are approved, there’s a likelihood that Angelo Mathews may be dropped.
It is an ICC event and therefore as per the protocol the total squad of 25 members including support staff will travel to Zimbabwe.
It is also learnt that the two special support staffs-a nutritionist and a psychologist- are not to be in the list. And, Dr. KAP Kiriella, who worked from outside as a team doctor against Afghanistan matches will travel to Zimbabwe. “Both- nutritionist (Dr. Hashan Amasrthunga) and a psychologist (Dr. Fedinan Perera) worked successfully with the team. We have to send a limited support staff for the Zimbabwe trip. But, yes, if our team qualifies for the World Cup, we will certainly try to send them”, Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the chairman of the jmedical panel, speaking exclusively, said.
The chief selector Pramodya Wickramsinghe will be a tour selector. The Sri Lankan team is placed in Group B with Ireland, Oman, Scotland and UAE. The five teams in group A are : Nepal, Netherlands, USA, West Indies and Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka’s first match is against the UAE team on Monday, the 19th June.
