NEWS
OPINION
GALLERY
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS

Lanka announces Cup squad

Seasoned campaigners Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillekeratne were included in Sri Lanka's 15-member squad for the World Cup.

The Board of Cricket Control of Sri Lanka, which announced the team yesterday, retained 11 members from the squad that won the World Cup in Lahore three years ago.

Muthaiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda D'Silva are the other major stars in a lineup led by Arjuna Ranatunga. Interestingly, Kumara Dharmasena, who played a key role in the 1996 Cup win, is missing from the lineup.

Batsman Mahela Jayawardena, off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage, seamer Eric Upashantha and all-rounder Chandika Hathurisinghe form the rest of the squad.

Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Aravinda D'Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthaiah Muralitharan, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Roshan Mahanama, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Hashan Tillekeratne, Chaminda Vaas, Promodaya Wickremasinghe, Eric Upashantha, Upul Chandana, Chandika Hathurasinghe, and Ruwan Kalpage.

Can the holders pull off a repeat?

You've seen the squad -- three regular pacemen, and what looks like an overlong batting lineup without sufficient bowling backup. So what do you think the Lankan strategy will be? Does this team have what it takes to mount a viable defence? You tell us.