Prolific Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshanhas a back injury and will not play in the remaining two one-day internationalsagainst New Zealand.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene said on Friday the managementdecided to rest Dilshan, who has a minor disk-related problem. He will not playin the last two matches of the series on Saturday and Monday at MahindaRajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota.
Batsman Chamara Kapugedera replaced him in the squad.
The opener braved back pain and slammed an unbeaten 102 inleading Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket win under the Duckworth/Lewis method in thethird match on Tuesday.
The win gave Sri Lanka an unassailable 2-0 lead in thefive-match series with the first game being washed out.
Jayawardene said his team would miss Dilshan's"allround package" — his flamboyant batting at the top order,economical offspin bowling and agile fielding.
"It's not too bad," Jayawardene said on theinjury. "With adequate rest it will heal naturally."
Though Kapugedera was selected, Dinesh Chandimal wasexpected to make the playing XI on Saturday.
A win will enable Sri Lanka to wrap up the series, andJayawardene said his concern was not only a series win but also adjusting tothe International Cricket Council's new field restriction rules which he hasalready criticized as heavily favoring the batsmen.
Jayawardene said the new rule to have a maximum fourfielders in the outfield even outside powerplay overs could kill the spinners'attacking instincts.
He said he will write to the ICC at the end of the seriesexpressing his views.