Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Sri Lanka unhappy with Atapattu

Former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu could face disciplinary action after pulling out of their forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

He informed officials on Sunday that he would not be available for the series because of "personal commitments".

Atapattu is currently in England playing for invitation side Lashings.

"We will have to see whether he has violated his annual contract. If he has, then we will have to take action," said board secretary K Mathivanan.

"This tour was a great opportunity for Marvan to get back in the team and we are disappointed that he has made himself unavailable."

The 36-year-old has played 88 Tests, 18 as captain, but has not appeared in the side for 18 months, primarily because he underwent surgery on his back in 2006.

Despite opting out of the Tests against Bangladesh, the first of which starts on 25 June, Atapattu has made it clear he has not retired and wants to be considered for future series.

The selectors will name a replacement for him in the near future.

But it will definitely not be Sanath Jayasuriya, who will be playing county cricket in England until the start of the one-day series which follows the Tests.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, flew into Sri Lanka on Sunday despite security fears because of activity by the Tamil Tigers, who want an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils in the north and east of the country.

"The Bangladeshi government has accepted our security guarantees making the tour possible," said Sri Lanka sports minister Gamini Lokuge.

The Tigers have carried out two separate air raids in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo since the end of March.

At least nine people died and more than 40 civilians were injured in two subsequent roadside bombs in the city.

The first two Tests will be played in the city, with the third to be staged in Kandy.

No comments: