COLOMBO, July 10: Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors on Thursday included pacemen Lasith Malinga and Farveez Maharoof in a 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in September.

Malinga (knee) and Maharoof (side strain) were both unfit for the recent Asia Cup tournament, won by their team in Karachi on Sunday.

Malinga has played 53 One-day Internationals and bagged 79 wickets, including four off successive balls in a World Cup match against South Africa in the Caribbean last year.

Maharoof has taken 104 wickets in 79 one-dayers.

Sri Lanka also picked spin sensation Ajantha Mendis, who grabbed six wickets for 13 runs in the Asia Cup final against India to guide his side to a 100-run victory.

The Champions Trophy is scheduled to start in Pakistan on Sept 11.

Preliminary squad: Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Thilan Thushara, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekera, Ajantha Mendis, Jehan Mubarak, Mahela Udawatte, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Malinda Warnapura, Michael Vandort, Upul Tharanga, Thilina Kandamby, Thilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Malinga Bandara, Gayan Wijekoon, Dilruwan Perera, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welagedera, Ishara Amerasinghe, Sujeewa de Silva, Rangana Herath.—AFP