Sri Lanka name squad for cricket's T20 World Cup

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka named a 15-player squad for
next month's Twenty20 World Cup, but said they were undecided on whether to
play against Afghanistan over the Taliban's reported ban on women playing
sport.

   Sri Lanka Cricket retained Dasun Shanaka as captain with Dhananjaya de
Silva as his deputy for the T20 World Cup which runs from October 17 to
November 14 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

   "We have now finalised the squad, but we are yet to take a decision
regarding Afghanistan," Sri Lanka cricket board secretary Mohan de Silva told
AFP.

   "We are aware of reports that some (teams) may boycott playing Afghanistan
over the Taliban's position on women, but we are yet to take a decision on
that," de Silva said.

   Australia Test captain Tim Paine said Friday he believed teams could pull
out of the Twenty20 tournament or boycott matches against Afghanistan unless
the Taliban regime change their stance on women's sport.

   Under International Cricket Council regulations, nations with Test status
must also have an active women's team.

   Australia on Wednesday said it would cancel a maiden Test against
Afghanistan in Hobart in November unless the Taliban backtracks.

   The new Taliban administration in Kabul has made it clear that while they
will allow the national men's cricket team to go ahead with their matches
abroad, they will not allow women to participate in sports.

   Sri Lanka squad:

   Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal,
Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga,
Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera,
Praveen Jayawickrema, Lahiru Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana. BSS/AFP