Upul Tharanga To Lead Sri Lanka In ODIs Against South Africa
Jan 26, 2017 at 11:24 AM
Sri Lanka Cricket Board has announced Upul Tharanga as the stand-in skipper against South Africa for the five-match One-Day International series.
The 31-year-old Tharanga also became 19th skipper for Sri Lanka in ODIs, when he led the national side to a Tri-Series win in Zimbabwe after Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal were recovering from injuries.
Mathews flew home after twisting his ankle during the second T20 game against South Africa.
The top-order batsman Dinesh Chandimal replaced Mathews as the captain in the third T20I game in Cape Town – to give his team a 2-1 series win over Proteas.
Sunday’s win was a boon for Sri Lanka after they suffered a 3-0 Test series whitewash against South Africa.
Mathews single handedly helped their team win the second T20 to level the series while struggling during running over 22-yard pitch.
Sri Lanka side came back after being hammered 3-0 in the recently concluded three-match Test series.
Wicket-keeper batsman Sandun Weerakkody earned a maiden call-up in ODIs alongside bowling allrounder Lahiru Madushanka. Chaturanga de Silva, the left-arm spin-allrounder has also earned a recall after playing six ODIs in 2014.
Opening batsman Danushka and fast-bowler Nuwan Pradeep had also returned home after suffering from the back and hand injuries respectively.
In the first-class games, all-rounder Madushanka bagged 15 wickets and scored 346 runs in seven games to break into the national squad. .
However, spin all-rounder Chaturanga has shown much promise in the first-class cricket where he scored 560 runs at an average of 50.90 which included six half centuries.
Opening batsman and wicket-keeper batsman Weerakoddy amassed 530 runs in six games for Noderscripts Cricket Club (NCC).
The ODI series beginning in Port Elizabeth is scheduled from 28 January to 10 February.
Sri Lanka’s ODI squad: Upul Tharanga (skipper), Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thikshila de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Madushanka, Asela Gunaratne, Sandun Weerakkody, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Mendis, Chaturanga de Silva, Sachith Pathirana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana.