Sri Lanka rest key players for Twenty20 clash

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been included in the squad for the Twenty20 international against India after an absence of nearly a year due to a knee injury. The selectors, however, have rested important players from the match on February 10, including captain Mahela Jayawardene, vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara and bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Nuwan Kulasekara.

Selection committee sources said the players were being rested from the first Twenty20 international in the country keeping in mind the team's hectic schedule this year. Tillakaratne Dilshan will captain the side and will have Chamara Kapugedera as his deputy.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to host Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Pakistan in 2009, a year in which they also play the World Twenty20 in England in June, and the Champions Trophy in September-October.

Among the players in the 15-member squad is 35-year-old Indika de Saram. Saram, a wicketkeeper-batsman who played a few games for Sri Lanka between 1999 and 2001, had complained to the sports minister about his exclusion from the squad for the Twenty20 tournament in Canada last October despite his impressive showing in local competitions.

Sri Lanka Twenty20 squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Indika de Saram, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Malinga Bandara, Jeevantha Kulatunga, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Mahela Udawatte, Thilan Thushara.