October 05 Saturday 2002
Sri Lanka put faith in pace for South Africa tour 

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will put their faith in untried pace bowlers and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for the upcoming tour of South Africa. 

Two young fast bowlers, Thilina Thushara and Tharanga Lakshitha, were selected for the first time for the two-test series as Sri Lanka unveil a new-look pace attack. 

The left-armed Thushara, rated the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka, and Lakshitha are both 20 and with the Sri Lanka "A" team in Pakistan. 

"The team has been selected and just has to be confirmed by the Sports Ministry," a cricket board official said on Friday. 

All-rounder Hasantha Fernando, who has played several one-day matches for Sri Lanka, was the third uncapped player selected for the tests in Johannesburg from November 8 and Centurion from November 15. 

The selectors also kept fast bowlers Sujeewa de Silva and Chamila Gamage, who had impressive performances against Bangladesh in July, in the 16-man squad. 

De Silva has played in just two tests and Gamage one. 

The pace bowlers will join veterans Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando, with Muralitharan, Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker, the sole spinner. 

Left-handed batsman Jehan Mubarak, 21, will probably fill the middle-order spot vacated by Aravinda de Silva who is stepping down from the test team, although the veteran is likely to be picked for the five one-day matches that follow the tests. Veteran batsman Hashan Tillekeratne was also selected to a strong batting side that includes captain Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene. 

Prasanna Jayawardene was picked as the wicketkeeper, although Kumar Sangakkara, who scored a double century against Pakistan earlier this year while playing as a wicketkeeper, will also make the tour. 

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillekeratne, Jehan Mubarak, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Sujeewa de Silva, Chamila Gamage, Thilina Thushara, Tharanga Lakshitha, Muttiah Muralitharan, Prasanna Jayawardene. Coach - Dav Whatmore.