Cricket Buzz: Sri Lanka drop Chandimal, Mendis for Pakistan Tests

Wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal and spinner Ajantha Mendis were left out of the Sri Lanka squad of 15 for the two-Test series against Pakistan, starting at Galle next week.

Chandimal lost his place to Niroshan Dickwella, who made his Test debut in the second Test against South Africa in Colombo last week and scored a half-century.

On the strength of his performance Dickwella has been retained for the two Tests against Pakistan.

Mendis was left out after a disappointing bowling performance in the drawn Colombo Test, which secured a 1-0 series win for South Africa.

Mendis, one of three spinners in the side, failed to take a wicket in either innings while conceding 85 runs.

His place has been filled in by fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep. who returns after injury.

Shaminda Eranga, who missed the Colombo Test due to a hand injury, and Suranga Lakmal have been selected subject to fitness.

“Eranga has recovered from his injured hand that required eight stitches, it’s a question of whether he can field,” said Sri Lanka manager Michael de Zoysa.

“Lakmal complained of pain in his heel during the second innings of the second Test.

“We had a scan and an x-ray done but there doesn’t seem to be any fracture or anything but we are monitoring him carefully."

Squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne,Kaushal Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal, Chanaka Welegedara, Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep.

NEXT: Match-fixers to face long jail terms in New Zealand

New Zealand is to slap a seven-year jail term on anyone caught match-fixing under a new law due to take effect before it hosts the Cricket World Cup and Under-20 FIFA World Cup next year.

The Match-Fixing Bill, introduced to parliament Thursday with unanimous political support, would apply the lengthy sentences to anyone caught trying to influence or benefit from the outcome of a match or race, AFP reported.

"Match-fixing is a growing problem internationally and has been described as the number one threat to the integrity, value and growth of sport," Sports Minister Murray McCully said.

"As we have seen from recent events, New Zealand is not immune to this threat."

Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent was recently banned for life from the sport after admitting to fixing, while Chris Cairns, who has denied match-fixing, remains under investigation.

Opposition sports spokesman Trevor Mallard said the bill made an important change to existing laws to make it "very clear that match-fixing is a crime. This puts it beyond any doubt whatsoever".

An International Centre for Sport Security report released earlier this year estimated that more than US$140 billion is laundered annually through sport betting "and 80 percent of global sport betting is illegal."

NEXT: ICC salutes 'inspirational' Kallis

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- 'We will never be able to stop spot-fixing'

- How Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila fixed matches

- Match-fixing: Episode 2

- The spot-fixing trial

- The betting scandal

...

In a rich tribute to Jaques Kallis, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said on Wednesday the legendary South African all-rounder will be remembered for his consistency with both bat and ball in all formats of the game.

Kallis had announced his retirement on Wednesday, prompted by a poor run in the series against Sri Lanka, where he could manage only five runs in three ODI innings.

"Jacques Kallis will go down as one of the greatest all-round cricketers in the history of the game. Since making his international debut at the age of 20, he has been a mainstay of the South African line-up in all forms of the game," Richardson, said in a statement.

During his illustrious career, spanning nearly two decades, Kallis played a total of 519 internationals in which he scored 25,534 runs with 62 centuries and took 577 wickets, besides 338 catches.

"To maintain such a high level of form and fitness in international cricket, is an incredible feat and should be an inspiration for younger generation of cricketers aspiring to be bracketed in the league of legends of the sport.

"Jacques played the game in a highly competitive manner and he can look back on his career with great pride. We wish Jacques and his family well with the next exciting phase of their lives," the statement added.