Sri Lanka wary of Bangladesh

Sri Lanka have said that they will field a full-strength team for the home series against Bangladesh, which comprises of two Tests and three one-day internationals in August and September.

"We can't take any chances against Bangladesh because we don't know their strength," said Lalith Kaluperuma, the chairman of selectors. "These are international matches and the best team will play. We might probably rotate some of the players to give the youngsters a chance but not at the expense of diluting the strength of the team."

Kaluperuma said that the five-member committee would name the 15-member Test and ODI squads on August 24 without first naming a pool of players as was the normal practice. Kaluperuma said that the selection would be based on the form shown in the recent Test series against West Indies and the triangular one-day tournament against India and West Indies. "We have just completed a successful Test series against West Indies and won the tri-nations one-day triangular against India and West Indies," he said. "We will go on the form shown by the players in these two series."

Sri Lanka played 19 players during the two Tests against West Indies and the tri-series. Only Pradeep Jayaparakashdaran, a medium-pacer, has been excluded and Shantha Kalavitigoda and Avishka Gunawardene, both batsmen, have been added to the set of players undergoing training with Tom Moody, the Sri Lankan coach. Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara will join the practice camp after returning from South Africa where they participated in the Afro-Asian Cup.

Bangladesh have had an impressive string of performances that began with their maiden Test victory against Zimbabwe at Chittagong. They also exceeded all expectations in the NatWest series in England in June during which they upset Australia in a shocking victory at Cardiff. Bangladesh last toured Sri Lanka in 2001-02 and they were white-washed 3-0 in the Test series.