Sri Lanka have named Chaminda Vaas in their squad for the third test match as Muthiah Muralitharan has been ruled out of the third test match as well due to injury. Vaas had last played in an international game in the ill-fated tour of Pakistan, but wasn’t picked for the ICC World T20 or the first two tests here.
Vaas had bowled 31 overs in that series, but failed to scalp a single wicket, on a featherbed of a wicket. He replaces offspinner Suraj Randiv in the 16-man squad. Randiv has had no part to play in the series so far, and with Rangan Herath performing the way he was, it made no sense to have an extra spinner in the squad.
Asantha de Mel had earlier been quoted in the press as saying that Vaas had retired from test match cricket, but the left-arm bowler refused this speculation and confirmed his availability for international cricket.
Vaas has 354 wickets in 110 tests and 400 in the ODI format. He has played in only six T20Is.
Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Tharanga Paranavitana, Malinda Warnapura, Tillakaratne Dilshan,Thilan Samaraweera, Rangana Herath, Angelo Matthews, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chamara Kapugedara, Ajantha Mendis, Kaushal Silva, Dammika Prasad, Suranga Lakmal