Colombo, Oct.9 (AFP): Sri Lankan cricket selectors were set for a possible showdown with sports minister Johnston Fernando over the team picked to tour South Africa next month, officials said on Wednesday.

The selectors had picked a 16-man squad and were awaiting the minister’s approval, but he declined to accommodate skipper Sanath Jayasuriya’s wish to exclude reserve wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardena.

Cricket sources said Jayasuriya wanted his club-mate Tillekaratne Dilshan included.