Atapattu reappointed as Sri Lanka's captain

Sri Lanka may not have a coach yet - although Jayantha Dharmadasa, the new chairman, has optimistically promised one by the week's end - but they do now at least have a captain as Marvan Atapattu was reappointed on Thursday for the forthcoming series against West Indies and India.

Atapattu's reappointment was never in any doubt after an impressive year since taking the full Test captaincy from Hashan Tillakaratne last April and his early appointment is reaffirmation of his growing status as a firm, no-nonsense leader who will probably lead Sri Lanka until the 2007 World Cup.

It was the second decision made by Sri Lanka's new trimmed-down five-man selection panel this week after the announcement of a 25-man training pool for the A team series against West Indies that starts later this month. Their first potentially controversial task will be the appointment of a national training pool.

However, Sri Lanka's national team training will for the time being focus on physical fitness training with the physiotherapist CJ Clarke, the only remaining member of a three-man Australian management team headed by the coach, John Dyson, whose contract expired in April.

Sri Lanka's players have an opportunity to regroup and refresh before the start of a hectic 12-month schedule that kicks off with West Indies' two-Test tour of Sri Lanka starting on July 15 at the Sinhalese Sports Club, and a tri-series with India beginning on August 1 (although schedule is still to be finalised).

Sri Lanka are then due to play Bangladesh in September at home, India away in November for a full Test and ODI tour, New Zealand away in early January followed by the VB Series in Australia and a possible two-Test series, another Bangladesh series and the Asia Cup in February and, finally, Pakistan in March.

The ICC has also announced that Mike Procter will be the ICC Match Referee for the West Indies tour, which will mark the return to international cricket of Muttiah Muralitharan after the lifting of the restrictions on his doosra.