The Junior National Selectors included St. Peter’s College all rounder, Akshu Fernando, in the Under-19 squad for the Tri-Nation tournament, ahead of Sri Lanka’s first match against Bangladesh, which will be played here at Dambulla, today.

Fernando, who was not in the squad for the first two matches of the tournament, came up with a fine rearguard performance, scoring a half century in the Sri Lanka Under-19 practice match against Pakistan on Friday, in Kandy.

He replaces top order bat, Udara Jayasundara, who will not be available, at least for the first two matches, due to the demise of a close relative.

"Udara Jayasundara will not be taking part in the match due to the death of his uncle. We have included Akshu Fernando in the side as a replacement," Sunil Wickramanayake, the chairman of the Junior National Selection Committee told ‘The Island’ on the eve of the match, yesterday.

Although he has been included in the squad, whether he plays in the first match or not will be decided by the team management after a pitch inspection in the morning, Wickramanayake said.

Top batsmen Bhanuka Rajapakse, Kithruwan Vithanage, Andri Berenger and Romesh Buddhika and pacemen Chathura Peiris and Charith Jayampathi are almost certain to be in the playing 11 today.

Wickramanayake said that the composition of the spin department and whether to play a fast bowling all rounder are the decisions to be made in the morning.

Mahanama all rounder Danushka Gunathilaka will be the first choice fast bowling all rounder in the squad, although he had a poor game in the practice match against Pakistan.

The spin bowlers in the squad are Rushan Jaleel, Saranga Rajaguru and Maduka Liyanapathirana.

Sri Lanka Under-19 from: Chathura Peiris (Captain), Bhanuka Rajapakse, Nipun Karunanayake, Andri Berenger, Kithruwan Withanage, Romesh Buddhika, Adisha Nanayakkara, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Jayampathi, Saranga Rajaguru, Maduka Liyanapathirana, Yasodha Lanka, Sanitha de Mel, Rushan Jaleel and Lahiru Jayaratne.