Sri Lanka in England 2011

Maharoof called up as cover for Fernando

Farveez Maharoof has been called up to the Sri Lanka squad for the first Test against England, following concerns over Dilhara Fernando's fitness. Maharoof, who is playing county cricket for Lancashire, was not part of the original 16-man Test squad but played the Sri Lankans' first tour game, against Middlesex, since several of the Sri Lanka players were still in India playing the IPL.

He has now been called up as cover for Fernando for the first Test that starts on May 26 in Cardiff, and given his form for Lancashire and his all-round abilities, he could end up playing his first Test since 2007, if Fernando is unfit. Maharoof started the season with a century on Lancashire debut and followed the tour game against Middlesex, in which he took two wickets, with a four-wicket first-innings haul for Lancashire against Yorkshire.

Fernando is reportedly carrying a nagging pain in his knee but played through it during the Sri Lankans' victory against England Lions in Derby. He took six wickets in the game.

Sri Lanka's other seam-bowling options are Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Thisara Perera and Chanaka Welegedara. The uncapped Pradeep impressed in the match against England Lions, taking four wickets in the second innings; Perera took four in the same game, while Lakmal and Welegedara took three and five wickets respectively in the game against Middlesex.

Maharoof played 20 Tests between 2004 and 2007, and was a regular in Sri Lanka's one-day side till early 2009 after which a combination of injuries and the emergence of Angelo Mathews as Sri Lanka's premier allrounder kept him out of the national team. He made a comeback during the 2010 Asia Cup but has not played any international cricket since.

Maharoof's inclusion in the Sri Lanka squad means he could miss Lancashire's trips to Hampshire and Durham.