Sweeping changes for Sri Lanka A tour

Thilan Samaraweera will lead a Sri Lanka A squad packed with Test experience © Getty Images

The Sri Lankan selectors have made sweeping changes to the A team for their tour of the Caribbean starting later this week retaining only seven players from the 15-member squad currently playing in the Duleep trophy competition in India.

The captain Tilan Samaraweera and his deputy Jehan Mubarak retain their places in the side along with batsmen Mahela Udawatte, Malintha Warnapura, Jeevan Mendis, wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva and fast bowler Ishara Amarasinghe.

While two members of the team in India - batsman Chamara Silva and fast bowler Akalanka Ganegama - have made it to the Sri Lankan side for the New Zealand tour, there is no place for spinners Rangana Herath and Upul Chandana and opening batsman Michael Vandort.

Instead, the experienced left-hander Russel Arnold leads a host of Test players in the side including legspinners Malinga Bandara and Kaushal Lokuarachchi, all-rounder Gayan Wijekoon, pace bowlers Ruchira Perera and Nuwan Kulasekera and opening batsman Avishka Gunawardene. Sajeewa Weerakoon, the left-arm spinner, who has performed extremely well for Sri Lanka A has also earned a call.

Sri Lanka A's one month trip is their first to the Caribbean will see them pitting their skills against their West Indian counterparts in two four-day unofficial tests and five limited overs matches.

Squad Tilan Samaraweera (capt), Jehan Mubarak, Malintha Warnapura, Mahela Udawatte, Jeevan Mendis, Russell Arnold, Kaushal Silva, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Gayan Wijekoon, Ruchira Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ishara Amarasinghe, Avishka Gunawardene