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**Official** Pakistan and Sri Lanka in UAE

Lostman

State Captain
Tour Fixtures

1st Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi
Oct 18-22, 2011 (10:00 local | 06:00 GMT | 02:00 EDT | 01:00 CDT | 23:00 PDT)

2nd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Dubai (DSC)
Oct 26-30, 2011 (10:00 local | 06:00 GMT | 02:00 EDT | 01:00 CDT | 23:00 PDT)

3rd Test: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah
Nov 3-7, 2011 (10:00 local | 06:00 GMT | 02:00 EDT | 01:00 CDT | 23:00 PDT)

1st ODI: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Dubai (DSC)
Nov 11, 2011 (15:00 local | 11:00 GMT | 06:00 EST | 05:00 CST | 03:00 PST)

2nd ODI: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Dubai (DSC)
Nov 14, 2011 (15:00 local | 11:00 GMT | 06:00 EST | 05:00 CST | 03:00 PST)

3rd ODI: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Dubai
Nov 18, 2011 (11:00 GMT | 15:00 local | 06:00 EST | 05:00 CST | 03:00 PST)

4th ODI: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Sharjah
Nov 20, 2011 (11:00 GMT | 15:00 local | 06:00 EST | 05:00 CST | 03:00 PST)

5th ODI: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at at Abu Dhabi
Nov 23, 2011 (11:00 GMT | 15:00 local | 06:00 EST | 05:00 CST | 03:00 PST)

Only T20I: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi
Nov 25, 2011 (17:00 GMT | 21:00 local | 12:00 EST | 11:00 CST | 09:00 PST)



link
Dinesh Chandimal has been recalled to Sri Lanka's Test squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE and is one of four wicketkeeper-batsmen in the 16-man party. Middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera, 34, and spinner Ajantha Mendis are the major omissions from the squad that lost 1-0 to Australia at home, while legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna was also left out.

"Thilan will not come into the reckoning in our long term plans," Duleep Mendis, the chairman of selectors, said. "We intend giving youngsters an opportunity while the seniors are around. He might be considered on a short-term basis."

Apart from Chandimal, who was part of the Test squad in England this summer but did not debut, fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and another wicketkeeper-batsman Kaushal Silva were the two other uncapped players called into the side. Chandimal has played 12 ODIs and seven Twenty20s, though, and is presently representing Ruhuna in the Champions League Twenty20 in India. Neither Pradeep nor Silva has any international caps.

Samaraweera scored only 86 runs at an average of 21.50 in the first two home Tests against Australia and was dropped for the third match at the SSC. Sri Lanka adjusted to his absence by batting the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan in the middle order while Lahiru Thirimanne opened with Tharanga Paranavitana. Dilshan is likely to continue batting in the middle order.

Mendis did not play any of the Tests against Australia because of a back injury he sustained during the preceding ODI series and he remained unavailable for selection. Prasanna made his debut in the second Test in Pallekele and took 0 for 80 in the match.

The squad contained five fast bowlers in Chanaka Welegedara, Suranga Lakmal, Dammika Prasad, Shaminda Eranga and Pradeep and only two specialist spinners - Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv. Angelo Mathews was selected as a batsman because he was not yet fit to bowl.

"Angelo has gone to Australia for treatment for his left knee and we will not risk bowling him in the series," Mendis said.

Sri Lanka play three Tests against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah starting on October 18.
That was fast.
Liked Samaraweera, but time to start moving on. PJ is next on the chopping block, 2 WK selected in this squad.
Prassana's ommision is my only concern.
 
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Xuhaib

International Coach
Shocking treatment of a great servant for SL cricket almost PCB-ish.Good to see no Kula Pakistan makes him look like Mcgrath.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
Yeah, pretty weird to drop Samaraweera. The selectors have never liked him though for whatever reason.
 

Himannv

International Coach
Not particularly impressed by this decision. I think the youngsters deserve a chance but not sure if it should be at the expense of Samaraweera.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
I'd have thought they'd want to take 3 spinners to UAE. Odd decision to pack five quicks.

Dropping Samaraweera is debatable but it makes sense.
 

Lostman

State Captain
Tough but right call imo.
SL's batting is just getting too old. These guys havn't been showing any intent while batting in recent times (RR~2.5, constantly), some youth needs to be injected while MJ/Sanga are still around.

Dilshan is captain so he cant get dropped, Sanga/MJ have a big credit line. Samaraweera was simply the odd man out.
 

Bun

Banned
Methinks it's Dilshan's decision to bat himself in the middle order that has cost Samaraweera.
 

Daemon

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Didn't MJ score heavily in England in the LO games? He had that brilliant hundred in the WC final as well. Not sure how he went against Aus, but regardless I wouldn't drop him.
 

Lostman

State Captain
Now you're really pushing it. Mahela's still one of the best ODI players in the world.
I am not asking them to be dropped immediately, but SLC really needs to see where they are going. Since the WC it seems to be just going in circles, which is a shame considering they had a tour to England and a series against Aus. Two high profile series that SL rarely get, which would have been great opportunities for our next generation of players. Chandimal got dropped after 3 failures against Australia so C.Silva could play FFS.

ODI's are only useful as a point for building to a WC.IMO.
Dilshan/Sanga/MJ are all going to be 38 by the time of the next WC. With this core SL have made 3 WC finals in the last 4 years and yet not won one.

For better or worse it is simply time start moving on.
 
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Himannv

International Coach
I'm not concerned by the ODI team much. There has always been a steady influx of young players in that setup. Mahela and Sanga can afford to occupy a couple of spots for a year or two.
 

SeamUp

International Coach
This is a harsh decision and almost Katich like with Australia.

He averages 52 plus in test cricket (eventhough he wasn't great away from sub-continent) at the end of the day even if he wasn't in great form, he earned a bit of time to get himself saying the position is his for forseeable future.

But in saying that, the SRL selectors do have a point about the demographics of the side but that could have been slowly dealt with. For instance was there a need for 3 keepers to be chosen?

With taking the five quicks, I wonder if it is preparing for South African tour.

Those UAE pitches are more dosile than anywhere else!
 
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Migara

Cricketer Of The Year
One of those selecturd moves. Chandimal is not test material up to now. They give him the chop in ODIs and pick for the tests. And they kept waiting for four long years to pick Kaushal Silva, now who is in wane.

Samaraweera don't deserve the axe. This man averaged 50 in the last ENG tour when famed two of SL were failing innings after innings. And guess what, he'll save our asses few times in SAF as well if he's selected.
 

Xuhaib

International Coach
SL ODI selection has been so dire they kept on playing Dinosaur Jayasuriya for ages kept giving a free ride to Chama and Kapugedara had the promising youngsters been bedded in through odi's there would have been less need of a panic decision like dropping Samara for test matches.
 

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
In his last six series, Samaraweera has averaged 87, 38, 153, 76, 51 and 22. The last time he played a series against Pakistan was in 2009 when he scored 469 runs @ 254 in the series.

Selection by birth certificate only, it seems.
 

salman85

International Debutant
Boring as anything,but a decent player.

I'm glad he isn't playing though.He would have been a pain on the UAE pitches.
 

NasserFan207

International Vice-Captain
Nice guy I'm sure, but he's an anti-cricket type of player. Whether its good for the team or not I'm glad he's gone.
 

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