COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's top strike bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas will not play in a four-match limited-overs series in India next month, a cricket official said on Wednesday, adding the move was to preserve the players' fitness ahead of the World Cup.

Sri Lanka's chief selector Asantha de Mel said the two players, who had had a long tour of New Zealand, needed to be protected from injuries.

Experienced left-handed batsman Russel Arnold has been picked to strengthen the middle order batting on the basis of good domestic performances this season, de Mel said.

``We found Russel to be in good form with the `A' team and in the domestic matches. We felt that we should give him a chance,'' he said. Thirty-four-year-old legspinner Upul Chandana and left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa, who have not played for Sri Lanka since November 2005, had been picked as replacements for Muralitharan and Vaas, de Mel said.

Sri Lanka plays four limited-over matches in India starting February 8.

The squad: Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Russel Arnold, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Malinga Bandara, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando and Nuwan Kulasekera. — AP

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