Vaas likely to be rested for second Test

Colombo, Jul 26 (UNI) Sri Lanka pace spearhead Chaminda Vaas may be rested for the second Test against India starting on July 31 in Galle, sources said.

The speculation arose with the Sri Lankan national selectors intending to rotate the pace bowlers for Test matches to assure their longevity at the international level, and as an initial step, may opt to rest Vaas for the second Test.

Selectors who met Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena and coach Trevor Bayliss to pick the squad for the second Test on Thursday felt the 34-year old veteran of 104 tests has served Sri Lanka tirelessly in his international career over a period of 14 years, and there was a need to preserve him for many more years as they still see him as a vital component of the team machinery, sources were quoted as saying by a local daily.

The selectors have also discussed the move as a positive opportunity to give up and coming young players more exposure at test level, they said, adding, ''Selectors feel it is better to rest Vaas intermittently and raw left arm paceman Tilina Thushara Mirando is likely to get the nod for the final team in the Galle test in place of Vaas''.

However, Vaas' selection would all depends on the work load he would handle in the first Test, currently taking place at the SSC.

Injured star pace bowlers Lasith Malinga, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando and Chanaka Welagedara were not considered for selection.

The 14-member squad for the first Test, however, was unchanged for the second test but the selectors decided to add medium paceman Dhammika Prasad, who performed well at the warm up game at NCC last week, making it a 15-member squad for the second match of the current series.

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