Mahela replaces Atapattu

Sri Lanka’s young revolutionaries Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have assumed control of the side for the Bangladesh tour star...

Sri Lanka’s young revolutionaries Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara have assumed control of the side for the Bangladesh tour starting later this month. One of the successes during the tri-series in Australia that also involved South Africa, Jayawardene’s appointment as captain for the two Tests and three ODIs is seen as a pointer to a long-term role once CWC07 is out of the way.

As fitness problems continue to plague current captain Maravan Atapattu and the heavy 2006 programme includes tours of the country east of Bengal and England and visits from Pakistan, South Africa and India in a tri-series, the national selectors have moved swiftly to put a proving squad together.

Atapattu has been rested for the Bangla tour along with Chaminda Vaas and Russel Arnold while Muttiah Muralitharan has been included in the Test squad and Sanath Jayasuriya is to play in the limited-overs side only on this tour.

Plans to make Jayawardene captain were made more than a week ago after Vaas, who did not have the support of the senior Test players, handed in his resignation to the selection panel before the first of three finals against Australia at Adelaide. Vaas indicated at the time that he wanted to take a break from touring duties and would not be available for the Bangladesh tour. The recent move is seen as a manoeuvre to bring Sangakkara in as vice-captain at a time Sri Lanka are looking at younger, fit players for the World Cup in the Caribbean next year.

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