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Sri Lanka recall elder statesman Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka on Thursday recalled veteran left-handed batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for the upcoming limited overs series against England, Ireland and Scotland.

Jayasuriya, who turns 42 at the end of this month, is the oldest player in international cricket. Now a ruling party legislator, he last played a one-day game against India in December 2009.

He quit the Test arena in 2007, but continued to play in the shorter versions of the game.

“The England tour will be my last tour for my country. I will play the first one-day and the Twenty20 match and retire,” Jayasuriya told reporters. “I am thrilled that selectors had faith in my fitness.”

Jayasuriya has played 444 one-dayers in his 21-year career amassing 11,825 runs.

“I am still fit enough to play international cricket, though I have not played much one-day matches for the past several months,” he said.

“Age is never an issue. I will be 42. So long as fitness and form is maintained, player burn-out is managed properly, there is scope for seniors like myself to represent the country.”

He plans to spend his cricket retirement serving his constituency in the southern district of Matara.

Jayasuriya is likely to open the innings, as regular opener Upul Tharanga was dropped from selection on Wednesday after he failed a random doping test.

Selectors led by former skipper Duleep Mendis named Thilina Kandamby as vice-captain of the squad. They also included all-rounder Jeewan Mendis and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal.

All-rounder Angelo Matthews, who is recovering from a quadriceps muscle injury, was included in the squad subject to him passing a fitness test.

Sri Lanka, currently playing a Test series in England, are scheduled to play a T20 match in Bristol on June 25 followed by five one-dayers from June 28 to July 9.

The tour will end with two one-day games against Ireland and Scotland.

Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (capt), Thilina Kandamby (vice-capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thissara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suranga Lakmal, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Sanath Jayasuriya.