Sri Lanka will use the three-match one-day international series against West Indies which opens here on Thursday to kick-start their preparations for the 2011 World Cup. Sri Lanka have made sweeping changes to the squad which drew the preceding two-Test series 1-1 with their hosts, and seven new players have been included to boost their stocks.
Joining the squad for the ODI series are openers Upul Tharanga and Chamara Kapugedera, batsmen Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Udawatte, and Jehan Mubarak, all-rounder Kaushalya Weeraratne, and leg-spinner Malinga Bandara. They have replaced Michael Vandort, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ishara Amerasinge, and Chanaka Welegedara.
Sri Lanka will jointly host the 2011 World Cup with India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and Jayawardene disclosed that his side is again setting itself the goal of reaching the Final as they did in the 2007 version in the Caribbean where they lost to three-time defending champions Australia. West Indies appear to have a similar, but less publicised policy, when they announced a 16-member squad.
Off-spin bowler Amit Jaggernauth is the only casualty from the 13-member squad picked for the second Test which ended on Sunday with a six-wicket victory for the home team, and four players have been added to bolster the squad. Coming into the side are wicketkeeper/batsman Patrick Browne, Runako Morton, Kieron Pollard, and all-rounder Darren Sammy.
WEST INDIES (FROM): Chris Gayle (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-capt), Sulieman Benn, Patrick Browne, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Runako Morton, Keiron Pollard, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor
SRI LANKA (FROM): Mahela Jaywardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (vice-capt), Malinga Bandara, Tillakeratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Thushara, Mahela Udawatte, Chaminda Vaas, Kaushalya Weeraratne.