Lithuania coach Kestutis Kemzura admitted that he's hoping Ramunas Siskauskas reconsiders his decision to retire from the international basketball after naming him in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIBA World Championship  in Turkey.

Siskauskas announced after the Lithuanians' bronze-medal game defeat to Argentina that he was calling it a day with the national team, but the CSKA Moscow forward is one of the best players in Europe and Kemzura knows he would make a huge difference this year in Turkey.

"I want to send him a message - you are very welcome," Kemzura said.

"This is a player worth waiting for."

Siskauskas, 31, has shot 55.7% from long range in the Euroleague and averaged better than 13 points per game.

Kemzura, who has replaced Ramunas Butautas at the helm of Lithuania, has also included Arvydas Macijauskas in his 24-man preliminary squad.

The 30-year-old Macijauskas has seen his career disrupted by injuries the past few seasons and hasn't played for the last year and a half.

But he recently expressed the desire to represent Lithuania again.

"I've spoken with Arvydas and I'm happy to know that he's training individually," Kemzura said.

"He'll be off to the USA soon and will work out there.

"I want to give him a chance as he has shown the will and determination to come back.

"However, Arvydas understands that he can't just jump into the first team."

Two other noteworthy inclusions in the preliminary squad are Donatas Motiejunas of Benetton Treviso and Tadas Klimavicius of Zalgiris Kaunas.

Motiejunas, a 19-year-old power forward/center, is playing for one of the best coaches in Europe at Benetton in Jasmin Repesa.

He is averaging almost 10 points and five rebounds in less than 21 minutes per game for the Palaverde club.

Klimavicius has been sensational for Zalgiris, helping fire the club into the Top 16 of the Euroleague and then leading them to the Baltic League title.

In Turkey, Lithuania will play in the Preliminary Round against Spain, France, Canada, New Zealand and Lebanon.

Preliminary Lithuania squad: Sarunas Jasikevicius, Mantas Kalnietis, Rimantas Kaukenas, Martynas Gecevicius, Arvydas Eitutavicius, Giedrius Gustas, Arvydas Macijauskas, Tomas Delininkaitis, Martynas Pocius, Renaldas Seibutis, Ramunas Siskauskas, Mindaugas Lukauskis, Arturas Jomantas, Simas Jasaitis, Jonas Maciulis, Linas Kleiza, Mindaugas Katelynas, Paulius Jankunas, Tadas Klimavicius, Ksystof Lavrinovic, Darjus Lavrinovic, Marijonas Petravicius, Robertas Javtokas and Donatas Motiejunas. Reserve squad: Zygimantas Janavicius, Sarunas Vasiliauskas, Aidas Viskontas, Adas Juskevicius, Martynas Mazeika, Arvydas Siksnius, Deivydas Gailius, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Saulius Kuzminskas, Martynas Andriuskevicius and Michailas Anisimovas.