Former All Ceylon cricket captain, Michael Tissera, has been appointed head of a four member selection committee under a directive issued by the Sports Minister, Johnston Fernando.

According to a release issued by the media unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka Tissera will have the services of former test cricketers Don Anurasiri, Roger Wijesuriya and Mahesh Gunatilake for future team selections.

The four selectors, whose appointments were effective from January 9 (Wednesday), are to serve in their posts till April 30, 2002.

The Minister of Sports was forced to appoint a new selection committee after three members of the former Selection Committee , Kapila Wijegunwardana, Amal Silva and Brendon Kuruppu resigned over a dispute regarding team selections.

A row in team selections was caused hours before the commencement of the second test between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe when the country’s star opener Marvan Atapattu, along with a another youngster, were shown the door by the three selectors who apparently resigned the following day.

Atapattu’s exit from the side went on to become an issue of national interest with the Sports Minister having to intervene and bring a settlement to the problem.

T. B. Kehelgamuwa, who headed the former selection committee, when contacted said in disgust that he had not resigned from his post, but was removed.

"They have the power to appoint people. Now they have removed me. What more can I say" Kehelgamuwa told ‘The Island’.