Colombo: Nuwan Zoysa, the left-arm fast bowler, was a surprise inclusion in Sri Lanka's provisional squad of 30 for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April-May, despite moderate success in the recently concluded Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournament.
The selectors, however, left out one of most prolific batsmen in the tournament, Jeevantha Kulathunga, who played an integral part in helping Wayamba to the title.
Kulatunga was adjudged the Player of the Tournament after scoring 277 runs at 69.25, which included the only century of the series. Zoysa, who last played for Sri Lanka in 2007, scored 86 runs but took only three wickets in five matches for Basnahira South.
Ruhuna's promising wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal also finds a place in the 30 along with his former Under-19 team-mates Thissara Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne. Chandimal finished the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 320 runs from seven matches.
Provisional squad: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Thissara Perera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara, Chanaka Welagedara, Suranga Lakmal, Farveez Maharoof, Isuru Udana, Malinga Bandara, Mahela Udawatte, LahiruThirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Kaushal Silva, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Jeewan Mendis, Nuwan Zoysa