SA vs SL: Chandimal dropped, Dimuth Karunaratne appointed as Sri Lanka Test captain

The two-Test series between Sri Lanka and South Africa begins in Durban on February 13

A day after getting whitewashed on the Aussie soil, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) took a strong decision with a hope to revive team’s situation in the red-ball cricket. Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal has been dropped for the upcoming South Africa tour while opener Dimuth Karunaratne has been named as the stand-in captain.

SLC confirmed the development on Tuesday through a release where they mentioned that Chandimal has been released from the team so that he could play domestic cricket and regain his form.

“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 SLC statement read.

Sri Lanka Test squad for South Africa. #SAvSL
Dimuth Karunaratne – Stand-in Captain
N Dickwella – V Capt
L Thirimanne
K Silva
K Mendis
K Perera
M Siriwardana
D De Silva
Oshada Fernando
Angelo Perera
S Lakmal
K Rajitha
V Fernando
C Karunaratne
M Shiraz
L Sandakan
L Embuldeniya pic.twitter.com/L5S8vSRJid

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) February 5, 2019

The two-Test series begins in Durban on February 13.

Sri Lanka 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

On Monday, Australia completed a confidence-boosting 2-0 series thrashing of Sri Lanka as the hosts were skittled for 149 on Day 4 of the second Test at Canberra, slumping to a massive 366-run loss.

Sri Lanka have now lost a home series to England 3-0, then away to New Zealand 1-0 to go with their two defeats in Australia. Australia won the first Test in Brisbane by an innings and 40 runs to end their summer on a high after losing an intense home series against top-ranked India.