Sri Lanka ODI and T20I skipper Upul Tharanga has been handed 2 match ban by the ICC for slow over-rate in the 2nd ODI against India which concluded in Pallekele yesterday.
The selectors have decided to hand the captaincy over to lower-middle order batsman Chamara Kapugedara for the next two games and also recalled Test captain Dinesh Chandimal and middle-order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne for the remaining 3 ODIs.
After Angelo Mathews stepped down from captaincy at the conclusion of the Zimbabwe ODI series, Sri Lanka Cricket appointed Upul Tharanga as the captain for the ODIs and T20Is until the 2019 world cup.
Sri Lanka were found three overs short of their target by Match Referee Andy Pycroft after India completed a 3 wicket win over the Islanders. Tharanga previously served a similar two-match suspension during the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 after Sri Lanka were found guilty of a slow over rate during their tournament opener against South Africa.
The selectors have called-up Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal in place of Tharanga and injured Dhanushka Gunathilaka.
Danushka is unlikely to feature in the next two ODIs after he hurt his shoulder trying to stop a ball during the 2nd ODI in Pallekele. It is likely that Thirimanne will partner Niroshan Dickwella in the opening slot, while Chandimal will fit in at number 4.
Chandimal was dropped from the ODI squad after a poor run in the ICC Champions Trophy and Thirimanne last played ODI cricket in January 2016.
Kapugedara has scored only 1592 runs in his 100 games with an average of 21.22 and his best came against West indies (95).
Thirimanne has accumulated 2586 runs in 107 games with an average of 34.48, while Chandimal has also been a regular member of the ODI setup with 3211 runs in 128 matches at an average of 33.44. The two senior players will strengthen the middle-order as the hosts go into a must win situation in the series.
