Malinga Bandara, the 25-year-old legspinner, has been included in a 20-player Sri Lankan pool for the tour of India later this year. The probables list also includes Sajeewa Weerakoon, the left-arm spinner who has been in impressive form with the A team recently, and Upul Tharanga, the left-handed opening batsman.
Bandara made his Test debut as long back as May 1998, but hasn't got another opportunity on the international stage after turning in an insipid performance in that match. Bandara's first-class stats, though, are impressive - 233 wickets at 25.05 - and what swung the decision his way was probably his performance for Gloucestershire in the 2005 county season: he played only eight games but finished joint-highest wicket-taker, along with Steve Kirby, his 45 scalps coming at just 24 apiece.
Sri Lanka will play seven one-dayers and three Tests in India over a two-month period from October 25.
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