Jayasuriya and Vaas only for key games: Atapattu
AFP, Dambulla
Sri Lanka will avoid risking key injured batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and fast bowler Chaminda Vaas in unimportant matches of the ongoing triangular one-day cricket series, their captain said Monday.Left-handed opener Jayasuriya dislocated his right shoulder while fielding during the Indian innings on Saturday, while left-arm seamer Vaas is recovering from a hamstring strain. Jayasuriya batted in pain to score a vital 43 not out in his team's three-wicket victory over India in the opening match of the tournament, which also features the West Indies. The hard-hitting opener is now just 33 short of becoming only the third batsman after India's Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani Inzama-mul Haq to complete 10,000 runs in one-day cricket. Vaas, who suffered his injury during the second and final Test against the West Indies in Kandy last month, did not play against India. Sri Lanka are expected to win their second match here on Tuesday even without the duo as they clash with a depleted West Indies. They have already beaten the tourists in the two-Test series. "We will assess Jayasuriya's condition on the afternoon of the match. He is progressing well and I hope he will be fit for more important games," Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said. "Vaas' comeback will also be delayed as much as possible but he will be there for important matches," said Atapattu. Both Jayasuriya and Vaas skipped their team's morning practice session on Monday. Sri Lanka are likely to meet India in the final considering the current form of the West Indies, who came here without their stars following a contract dispute between the players and their cricket board. Each team will play four matches in the tri-series before the day-night final in Colombo on August 9. Also missing from Sri Lanka's team in the opening game against India was left-arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa, suffering from a back injury. "It was a big blow not to have Vaas and Zoysa in the first game. But our youngsters did well, especially Ferveez Maharoof and Dilhara Lokuhettige," said the Sri Lankan skipper. Atapattu said his team would try to maintain their impressive home record despite the return of experienced Indian batsman Sourav Ganguly. India have lost three of their last four one-dayers in Sri Lanka, including the Asia Cup final in Colombo last year. "We know what he (Ganguly) is capable of. He is very talented. We are also aware that India can come back strongly. But we are not concerned about their team as we are concentrating on our cricket," he said. Ganguly returned to the team after serving a four-match ban for India's slow over-rate against Pakistan in a home one-day series in April. He has missed two games against Pakistan and as many in the ongoing tournament.
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