Sri Lanka pick provisional squad for England

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Mar 28 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's selectors have picked a 25-man provisional squad for the team's seven-week tour to England starting in April.

Fast bowling discard Nuwan Zoysa, axed after Sri Lanka's one-day series in India last year, returns to the fold after an impressive domestic season.

All rounder Gayan Wijekoon has also been included after time on the sidelines following a string of brilliant domestic performances.

The 29-year-old cracked 917 runs at an average of 70.53 and also clamed 20 wickets at 23 with his medium pace.

Sri Lanka leave for England on April 20 and will play three tests and five one-day internationals.

Sri Lanka will be selecting two separate squads for the tests and ODIs after the current test series with Pakistan.

The tour will be followed by a two-match exhibition series against Holland before the team takes a three-week break.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak, Ian Daniel, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Russel Arnold, Prasanna Jayawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ruchira Perera, Akalanka Ganegama, Dammika Prasad, Nuwan Zoysa, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Gayan Wijekoon.

REUTERS PM RAI0919