Sri Lanka set for ninth captain in last five years across formats

Ajit Vijaykumar 09:45 23/06/2018
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  • Chandimal (r) and Mathews won't play in the third Test against the West Indies.

    Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal will miss his team’s third and final Test against the West Indies, which starts in Barbados on Saturday, after losing his appeal over a ball-tampering charge.

    “Judicial Commissioner, Michael Beloff, has dismissed Dinesh Chandimal’s appeal after the Sri Lanka captain was found guilty of changing the condition of the ball during the second day’s play in the second Test against the Windies in St Lucia on Saturday,” the ICC said in a statement.

    That means Sri Lanka will need a new captain for the match. According to the Sri Lankan board, veteran spinner Rangana Hertah has split the webbing on his right hand and is doubtful for the match. He was supposed to lead the side if Chandimal was unavailable.

    Unless Herath miraculously recovers before toss in the day-night Barbados Test on Saturday, pacer Suranga Lakmal will captain the team.

    The unheralded Lakmal will be ninth player to lead Sri Lanka across formats since 2013. Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Kapugedera, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera have captained the Lions at various stages in the three formats.

    In fact last year, Sri Lanka had seven different captains in all three formats.

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