Chandimal dropped, Karunatne to lead SL in SA

Chandika Hathurusingha chats with Dinesh Chandimal

• Chandimal dropped after poor Australia tour, asked to regain form in domestic cricket
• Karunaratne named stand-in Captain
• Four uncapped players named in touring party

By Madushka Balasuriya

Dinesh Chandimal has been dropped and Dimuth Karunaratne will take over as Captain, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced, among a raft of changes to Sri Lanka’s Test squad ahead of their tour of South Africa later this month.

“The National Selectors have decided to appoint Dimuth Karunaratne as the Stand-In Captain for the tour,” stated an SLC release. “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.”

While Chandimal’s role in Sri Lanka’s limited overs setup has long been a point of contention, his place in the Test unit has been rather more secure. Despite poor returns in the recently concluded two Test series against Australia, where he scored just 24 runs across four innings, Chandimal averages 40.93 in 17 Tests as captain.

For Karunaratne, the promotion comes sooner than expected; he had been earmarked by SLC as a future captain, but taking over the reins ahead of what promises to be yet another gruelling South Africa tour is a poisoned chalice, especially when you factor in the inexperienced nature of the rest of the squad.

In batsmen Angelo Perera and Oshada Fernando, seamer Mohamed Shiraz, and left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, Sri Lanka have named four uncapped players, while a further four have played less than five Tests. In fact, Karunaratne with his 58 caps is the most senior player in the squad.

As such Sri Lanka will be heading out to South Africa with what is arguably their most inexperienced pace attack since gaining Test status, with Suranga Lakmal expected to lead a group that includes the uncapped Shiraz, and the equally green trio of Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha and Chamika Karunaratne.

Among the more familiar faces returning to the squad are Kaushal Silva and Milinda Siriwardana. Silva last played in Sri Lanka’s chastening home series whitewash against England, while Siriwardana hasn’t turned out for the national side since 2016. While Silva has impressed domestically, Siriwardana owes his recall to a couple of recent hundreds against Ireland A.

Alongside Chandimal, the others making way are spinner Dilruwan Perera, and batsmen Roshen Silva and Sadeera Samarawickrama. Just as extensive is Sri Lanka’s burgeoning injury list which now accounts for Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep, and Lahiru Kumara.

The two Test series against South Africa will begin in Durban on 13 February. The tour will also see Sri Lanka play five ODIs and three T20Is.



Sri Lanka squad:

Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), Niroshan Dickwella, (v-capt.), 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