India take on Board XI as Lankan selectors ponder final XI

India will play their only three day match ahead of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka from tomorrow at the P. Sara Stadium in Colombo. Their opponents will be Sri Lanka Board XI, who've got six Test cricketers in their ranks, four of whom may play in the first Test in Galle.

India's one-day specialists have now returned to Chennai, whilst their Test match replacements are slowly arriving in Colombo. Shiv Sunder Das, Mohammed Kaif, Dinesh Mongia, Sairaj Bahutule and Harvinder Singh arrived in Colombo yesterday while fast bowlers Venkatesh Prasad , Javagal Srinath and opening batsman Sadagoppan Ramesh arrived today.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar will join the tour party if his foot injury is given the all-clear after a bone scan on Friday. Zaheer Khan is suffering from shin splints, but is expected rejoin the team in time for the first Test.

The Indian cricketers practiced at the Sinhalese Sports Club this morning and will decide on the final eleven for tomorrow's game this evening after a team meeting. However, all the Test specialists are expected to play.

Sri Lanka meanwhile have named a strong Board side, captained by Thilan Samaraweera.

The national selectors have delayed naming the squad for the Test series and they will be watching the performances of the Board XI closely. The Sri Lanka Test squad will be selected on Thursday.

Hashan Tillakaratne has an opportunity to make the Test squad after two years in the wilderness, while Kumar Sangakkara needs to prove his form. Avishka Gunawardene will open the batting and is expected to do so in the first Test.

With Nuwan Zoysa injured, fast bowlers Ruchira Perera, Dinusha Fernando and Suresh Perera have a chance to grab the remaining fast bowler's slot.

Sri Lanka Board XI: Thilan Samaraweera (Capt), Avishka Gunawardene (Vice-Capt), Michael Vandort, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Suresh Perera, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Ruchira Perera, Dinusha Fernando.

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid (vice captain), Shiv Sunder Das, Sameer Dighe, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Md Kaif, Hemang Badani, Sairaj Bahutule, Dinesh Mongia, Harvinder Singh, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Rahul Sanghvi.