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Sri Lanka starts off as favourites
By Marlon Fernandopulle
Hosts Sri Lanka will start off as favourites when the test stars of tomorrow from England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka compete in a triangular tournament, which begins in Colombo today. In the curtain raiser of the A team triangular Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan at the NCC grounds.

Sri Lanka have their tails up after their triumph against England A earlier this week in the four-day game. Their morale was further lifted following the inclusion of some experienced players who failed to make it to the senior team which is scheduled to tour New Zealand later this week. Russell Arnold, Saman Jayantha and Dilhara Fernando have all been drafted into the A team giving the hosts a wealth of experience and talent. With skipper Jehan Mubarak, Avishka Gunawardene, Thilina Kandamby eager to prove them the Lankan batting line up looks formidable.

Allrounders Gayan Wijekoon and Hasantha Fernando along with wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene should provide the much needed depth to the Lankan batting which will hold the key for the Lankans today.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) should be commended for organizing a tournament of this nature for budding test stars of the future. One only hopes that the youngsters from all three countries will make full use of the triangular tournament and gain the much needed exposure and experience to play in the big league.

Sri Lanka A - Jehan Mubarak (Capt), Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardene, Russell Arnold, Thilina Kandambi, Malintha Gajanayake, Gayan Wijeyakoon, Prasanna Jayawardene, Thilina Tushara, Malinga Bandara, Suraj Mohamed, Nandika Ranjith, Dilhara Fernando, Ian Daniel, Hasantha Fernando.

Pakistan A -Misbah ul-Haq (Captain),Hasan Raza,Faizal Ather,Wajahatullah Wasti,Asher Zaidi,Bazid Khan,Aamir Bashir,Faizal Iqbal,Muhamad Tahir,Imran Tahir,Syed Zulkarnain,Yasir Arafat,Abdul Rauf Khan,Shahid Nazir,Muhamad Azif,Riaz Afridi.

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