By Ranjan Paranavithana & Champika Fernando
Sanath Jayasuriya who makes a return to the national side for the Asia Cup in Pakistan next month following some breathtaking performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League, yesterday said that it came at the right time for him.
“I believe it came at the right time. I was waiting for this moment. When I was dropped from the side, I knew only way to earn my place back is to score some runs,” the veteran cricketer said from Mumbai.
Following a disastrous performance at the CB tri-nation series involving, hosts Australia, India and Sri Lanka, the 39-year-old country’s highest capped player was dropped for the West Indies tour.
“I couldn’t make runs in the domestic circuit even though my bowling and fielding has been pretty impressive. So the only thing that was needed was to score a few runs,” he added.
Jayasuriya who retired from Test cricket last year now plays for the Mumbai Indians as the third highest paid player in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
“I have no long-term plans. But I believe I could help Sri Lanka to lift Asia Cup for the second time in a row,” he explained.
It is reported yesterday that Jayasuriya was included in the 15-man squad following the intervention of Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge after the selectors initially dropped him for the Asia Cup bound team. But Lokuge denied any hands in the selection and said he approved the team, the selectors had submitted to him.
“Who says I pressurized the selectors. There’s no underhand move,” the minister explained.
The selectors met on Tuesday and finalized a 15-member team sans veteran opener but the minister is said to have delayed ratifying the squad, which helped Jayasuriya make his case with an unbeaten 114 for the Mumbai Indians against the Chennai Super Kings.
Accordingly the selectors axed out of form Upul Tharanga and three other players who were part of the ODI squad in the West Indies have been dropped - fast bowlers Ishara Amerasinghe and Thilan Thushara, and legspinner Malinga Bandara. Farveez Maharoof and Dilhara Fernando return from injuries while Muttiah Muralitharan, who had been rested for the West Indies ODIs has been recalled.
The Asia Cup will be held in Pakistan from June 24 to July 6. Sri Lanka has been grouped alongside Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates. The top two teams from each group qualify to the next phase, where the teams will play each other once to decide the two finalists.
Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Udawatte, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Kaushal Weeraratne, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Nuwan Kulasekera.
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