Sri Lanka have announced the ODI squad for the remaining 3 matches against India to be played in Pallekele and Colombo. The regular skipper Upul Tharanga was banned for 2 matches after his side failed to complete the full quota of overs in the stipulated time.
After the completion of the 2nd ODI at Pallekele, the Match Referee Andy Pycroft found that the Sri Lankan team was three overs short of the target and as a result, the captain Tharanga was handed a ban for 2 matches. This was the second instance when he faced such a penalty. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to the same punishment after the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy against South Africa.
In his absence, the selectors have appointed Chamara Kapugedera as the stand-in captain. Another notable change was the inclusion of the Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal in the squad who has been in and out of the limited overs side over the past few years. Left-handed batsman Lahiru Thirimanne has also been called back.
According to reports, Danushka Gunathilaka had injured his shoulder while fielding in the second ODI and he might miss the next 2 matches of the series. In his absence, Thirimanne might get a look into the side as the opening partner of Niroshan Dickwella.
Sri Lanka need revival
The hosts have been thrashed by the strong Indian side in all the matches so far on the tour. It was only in the second ODI that they gave some fight to the opposition. But in that game too, the batsmen struggled to set up a big score. Barring one or two occasions, the batting has failed miserably.
The return of Dinesh Chandimal may come in as a boost to the fragile middle-order. But he hasn’t been in a great form of late either. The absence of Tharanga will hurt them even more and now the experienced Angelo Mathews will have his work cut out who needs to play the match-defining innings to rejuvenate a depleted side.
