Chances for Sri Lankan pair

All-rounder Suresh Perera has been dropped

Sri Lanka have dropped all-rounder Suresh Perera and leg-spinner Upul Chandana, naming two new caps for the three-Test series against Zimbabwe.

The newcomers are right-arm seamer Prabath Nissanka and right-hand batsman Chamara Silva. Both have played one-dayers but are new to Test cricket.

Silva scored an unbeaten 127 for Sri Lanka's Board XI against Zimbabwe, in a game that the home team won on Sunday.

The 22-year-old has played in eight one-day internationals and toured Zimbabwe and Sharjah with the national side in November. But he will find it tough to find a place in Sri Lanka's fine middle order.

Search for seamers

Nissanka, 21, made his one-day international debut in Sharjah in November and has played in three matches. He is one of four seamers in the squad.

Chaminda Vaas is the proven class act in Sri Lanka's medium-fast bowling department.

Many observers feel that if the team can find one or two other bowlers close to his calibre they will have a really excellent side.

By selecting Nuwan Zoysa, Charitha Buddika and Nissanka, they are looking towards the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Sri Lanka has long term plans of picking at least five fast bowlers when they come to pick the squad for South Africa in a year's time.

And with tours to England, South Africa and Australia scheduled next year, Sri Lanka hope to expose as many players as possible in batting and bowling.

Squad: Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Chamara Silva, Thilan Samaraweera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Charitha Buddika, Prabath Nissanka, Niroshan Bandaratillake.