Colombo: Sanath Jayasuriya, who resigned as Sri Lanka's captain last week, will lead a 15-member national squad in the upcoming One-day cricket tournament in Sharjah, officials announced on Saturday. The hard-hitting batsman quit the captaincy last Saturday but his resignation was rejected by Sri Lankan Sports Minister Johnston Fernando the following day. The four-nation tournament will be held at Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates from April 3 to 10. World Cup semi-finalists Kenya, Zimbabwe and Pakistan are the other teams. The selection panel, including veteran batsman Aravinda de Silva who retired after the World Cup, named newcomers Michael Vandort, wicketkeeper-batsman Prasanna Jayawardena and leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi in the team. Batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold were axed following their unimpressive performance in the World Cup. Experienced off spinner Kumar Dharmasena, a member of the 1996 World Cup-winning squad, has been recalled after a long layoff. The Sharjah Cup was originally to be held from April 1 to 8, with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the fray. South Africa pulled out due to security concerns, forcing the organisers to reschedule the tournament. Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Avishka Gunawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillekeratne, Prasanna Jayawardena, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Prabath Nissanka, Charitha Buddhika Fernando, Kumar Dharmasena, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Muthiah Muralitharan and Michael Vandort. Copyright AFP 2001

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Sharjah Cup converted into a quadrangular affair

Tags: cricket, sri lankan captain sanath jayasuriya, sri lankan sports minister johnston fernando, world cup, kenya, zimbabwe, pakistan, aravinda de silva, mahela jayawardene, russel arnold, marvan atapattu.