Samaraweera leads A-team tour

Tilan Samaraweera hasn't played for Sri Lanka since the tour of England last year © Getty Images

Sri Lanka have named a 15-man squad for the A tour of England starting next month. Tilan Samaraweera, who played the last of his 39 Tests at Edgbaston last year, leads the side with Jehan Mubarak as his vice-captain.

According to SLC sources, Mubarak is expected to captain the team in the four one-day matches on the tour. He and fellow opener Michael Vandort also toured England last year when Sri Lanka drew the Test series 1-1.

For Samaraweera the tour is a chance to press his claims for an international recall. The selectors are assessing their options ahead of the tour of Australia in November, and a home Test series against England in December.

"We are looking at Tilan as a Test player. He is still our best No. 5 batsman and we hope to give him every opportunity to get enough runs behind him before the England series," a selection committee source said. "We have picked this team with a look at the future both short term and long term."

Chamara Kapugedera, who has been named as one of the middle order batsmen, is likely to be recalled for the three one-day internationals against Bangladesh at home. The A tour coincides with Bangladesh's tour to Sri Lanka starting later this month.

Squad Tilan Samaraweera (capt), Jehan Mubarak, Michael Vandort, Mahela Udawatte, Chamara Kupugedara, Kaushal Silva, Gayan Wijekoon, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Akalanka Ganegama, Ishara Amarasinghe, Chanaka Welagedera, Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Charith Sylvester. Stand bys: Thilina Kandamby, Kanchana Goonawardane, Ranga Dias.