Nawaz to lead Sri Lanka A

Naveed Nawaz will lead the 16-member Sri Lanka A team on their New Zealand tour next month. Thilina Kandamby, the 21 year old left-hander from Bloomfield, was named vice-captain. Kandamby, who is looked upon as future captaincy material, has proved to be a thinking cricketer during club matches in the Premier trophy tournament.

Nawaz will lead a team which comprises five fast bowlers, an all-rounder and a spinner on the five-week long tour which will see Sri Lanka A play three five-day unofficial Tests and three one-dayers against New Zealand A.

Lasith Malinga, Mario Villavarayen, Tharanga Lakshitha, Charitha Buddhika and Dinusha Fernando are the fast bowlers in the team with Hasantha Fernando as the fast bowling all-rounder. Left-armer Dinuk Hettiarachchi is the only recognized spinner. Prasanna Jayawardene is the only wicket-keeper in the side and in an emergency Chamara Silva may be asked to don the gloves.

Though the squad is named it is awaiting ratification from the Sports Ministry.

Squad
1 Naveed Nawaz (capt), 2 Thilina Kandamby, 3 Ian Daniel, 4 Shantha Kalavitigoda, 5 Pradeep Hewage, 6 Jehan Mubarak, 7 Bathiya Perera, 8 Chamara Silva, 9 Hasantha Fernando, 10 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 11 Dinuk Hettiarachchi, 12 Lasith Malinga, 13 Mario Villavarayen, 14 Tharanga Lakshitha, 15 Charitha Buddhika, 16 Dinusha Fernando.

March 3: Arrival March 5-7: Sri Lanka A v Otago at Alexander March 11-15: 1st five-day unofficial Test at Queenstown March 19-23: 2nd five-day unofficial Test at Lincoln March 27-31: 3rd five-day unofficial Test at Christchurch April 3: 1st limited-over game at Lincoln April 5: 2nd limited-over game at Lincoln April 7: 3rd limited-over game at Lincoln April 8: Departure