Chandimal out of Asia Cup

Tuesday, 11 September 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Madushka Balasuriya

Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the Asia Cup set to start next week, Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed, with Niroshan Dickwella replacing him. Chandimal had fractured his right middle finger during last month’s domestic T20 tournament.

The injury is yet another setback for a player who had just recently missed almost the entirety of Sri Lanka’s home series against South Africa over a spirit of cricket violation, and has been earmarked by SLC as a key limited overs player ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Dickwella, who had been one of the stand out players during the South Africa tour, was a surprise exclusion from the initial squad, but had been placed on the standby list. If he makes the starting XI, it will be his first T20I since February, though he did take part in last month’s domestic tournament.