The national selectors have named Upul Tharanga as the stand-in Sri Lanka ODI captain for the upcoming five-match series against South Africa which starts on 28th January.
With the regular skipper Angelo Mathews ruled out of the current tour due to a hamstring injury in the second T20 and personal reasons, Dinesh Chandimal was expected to step in but Tharanga was preferred due to his experience. Tharanga led Sri Lanka to the Tri-Series title in October in Zimbabwe minus both Mathews and Chandimal.
Batsman Danushka Gunathilake and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep who were expected to be in the ODI squad were also sent back home earlier this week due to injuries.
Left-arm spinning all-rounder Chathuranga De Silva has also been named as a replacement. De Silva has represented Sri Lanka in 6 ODIs and was a part of the victorious World T20 winning Sri Lanka squad in 2014. Since his switch to NCC from Moors SC this season, De Silva has captured 35 scalps in 6 games and has scored 560 runs at 50.90.
23-year old left-handed opening batsman from NCC, Sandun Weerakkody has been named in a national squad for the first time along with CCC’s fast-bowling all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka.
Weerakkody has been in prime form throughout the current SLC Premier League Tournament scoring 530 runs in 6 matches with 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries at a healthy strike rate of 100. Madushanka, a proud product of St. Thomas College, Matale has played only 27 list A matches but struck 164 and took a 7-wicket match bag during their Super 8 four-day encounter last weekend.
T20 specialists, Isuru Udana, Seekkuge Prasanna and Thikshila De Silva will return home after the completion of the three-match T20I series.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad – Upul Tharanga (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Mendis, Sandun Weerakkody, Asela Gunarathne, Sachith Pathirana, Lakshan Sandakan, Chathuranga De Silva, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Vikum Sanjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Kulasekara.
