Sri Lanka Cricket is expected to name seamer Suranga Lakmal as the captain for the two-match Test series against South Africa that gets underway on the July 12 in Galle after the team’s think-tank including captain Dinesh Chandimal face a minimum of two-Test ban.
Chandimal, who missed the third Test against West Indies in Barbados earlier this week for ball tampering, faces further sanctions along with head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusinha. Chandimal pleaded innocent for the ball tampering charge during the second Test in St. Lucia but his plea was turned down by Judicial Commissioner Michael Beloff.
The trio have pleaded guilty for a Level Three offence that relates to bringing the game into disrepute. The Sri Lankans held up play on the third day of the second Test against West Indies in St. Lucia for two hours demanding match officials to provide evidence after being charged with ball tampering.
The minimum penalty for a Level Three offence is suspension of two Test matches and Chandimal is likely to miss both Tests against the Proteas. Beloff is expected announce the sanctions on July 10, two days prior to the first Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa.
“We have come to terms with the fact that we will be without the captain. It is a matter of how many matches he will miss. We will progress with Lakmal as there needs to be continuity,” a Sri Lanka Cricket official told Cricbuzz.
Sri Lanka won the third Test against Windies as Lakmal became the first Asian captain to win a Test match in Barbados.
SLC decided against an internal inquiry into the fiasco during the second Test, but admitted that the team management was wrong to hold up play.
“I am disturbed about the team not taking the field. It was wrong not to take the field. This should not have happened. We regret the team not going onto the field for two hours. We should maintain discipline of the highest order. SLC is committed to maintain spirit of cricket,” Faizer Mustapaha, the Minister of Sports said during a media briefing after the team’s return to Colombo from the Caribbean.
Opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne, who missed the West Indies tour due to injury, is expected to return to the side along with Angelo Mathews, who returned home early from West Indies due to personal reasons.
