Dhammika Niroshana, Ex-Sri Lanka U19 Captain, Shot Dead At Home

Dhammika Niroshana led a side which had the likes of Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal and Anglo Mathews who went on to have successful international careers.

Dhammika Niroshana, former Sri Lanka U-19 captain, was shot dead with a 12-bore rifle in front of his wife and children.

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In a piece of news that has taken the cricketing world by storm, Dhammika Niroshana, a former captain of the Sri Lankan U-19 team, was reportedly shot dead at his residence on Tuesday (July 16) night. The 41-year-old's reported murder happened at the former cricketer's Ambalangoda home, Kanda Mawatha.

As quoted by reports in Sri Lankan media, Niroshana was shot dead with a 12-bore rifle. He was at his home with his wife and two children when the incident happened. The police reportedly arrived at the scene after getting to know of the incident and sent the body for autopsy after taking possession of it. The police has started an investigation into the situation.

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Suspect And Reason For Shooting Not Identified Yet By Police

The law enforcing officials have not yet identified the suspect and the reason for shooting. Notably, Niroshana was a right-arm fast bowler and a right-handed batter. He made his debut for Sri Lanka Under-19 team in 2000 after which he played a few years of age-group cricket.

Niroshana is often credited to be one of the best all-rounders to have come up the rank from the Sri Lankan youth system with the likes of Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Anglo Mathews all of whom became international stars, playing under him. At 20, however, he quit the sport.

Dhammika Niroshana's Career In Numbers

Dhammika Niroshana played 12 first-class matches, scalping 19 wickets with a best of 4/33, averaging 26.89. In List A cricket, he played 8 matches, picking up 5 wickets, averaging 29.40. In addition, he registered a highest score of an unbeaten 47* in first-class cricket, having taken 4 catches in his days' cricket.