Sri Lanka Cricket Leaves Out Dinesh Chandimal From the Test Series Against South Africa

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have left out regular skipper Dinesh Chandimal for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Instead, top-order batsman Dimuth Karunaratne will lead the side in the two-match Test series starting from February 13. On the other hand, wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella will be his deputy.

Meanwhile, the board have asked Chandimal to go back to the domestic cricket to prove his form. Dinesh Chandimal has been under the scanner recently for his poor show with the bat. In the recently concluded Test series against Australia, Chandimal has managed to score only 24 runs in the four innings with the highest score of 15. His last half-century came in the second Test against New Zealand last year. SLC have made it clear that Dinesh Chandimal will have to score runs to return to the national team.

“The National Selectors have decided to appoint Dimuth Karunaratne as the Stand-In Captain for the tour. They have also released Dinesh Chandimal from his duties as Captain and Player of the National test team to play domestic cricket to regain his form and be ready for future international tours,” the Sri Lankan Cricket Board said in a statement.

The current squad have many new names including Angelo Perera, who recently made the headlines for scoring two double hundred in a single match. While Suranga Lakmal makes a return to the squad, Lahiru Kumara will continue to recover from injury.

The young team led by Karunaratne will look to place their best feet forward when they start their campaign in the Rainbow Nation. Durban will host the first Test starting from February 13 while Port Elizabeth will host the second Test beginning from February 21.

Squad: 

Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Niroshan Dickwella, (vc) Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya De Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Embuldeniya