Former Sri Lanka cricketer Dhammika Niroshana shot dead in front of family in Galle

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Dhammika Niroshana was shot dead at his residence in Ambalangoda, Galle district, on Tuesday night, July 16. The 41-year-old former U19 captain was with his wife and two children when an unidentified assaulter opened fire, ending the cricketer's life brutally and unexpectedly.

Niroshana made his debut for the Sri Lankan U19 side in 2000 and quickly rose through the ranks to captain the team in the 2002 U19 World Cup held in New Zealand. Niroshana picked up seven wickets in five innings in the tournament, averaging 19.28 with a best of 3/38. 

His leadership nurtured talents like Farveez Maharoof, Angelo Mathews, and Upul Tharanga, who went on to represent the island nation at the highest level. Niroshana's career saw him play 12 first-class games and eight List-A matches for the Galle Cricket Club, between 2001 and 2004, scoring over 300 runs and claiming 19 wickets.

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The motive behind this heinous crime remains unclear, leaving local authorities searching for answers. The Sri Lankan Police have launched a thorough investigation to identify the culprit and uncover the reasons behind this tragic event. 

As the nation fights with this tragedy, the Sri Lankan cricket team is preparing to host India for an upcoming white-ball series. Starting from July 27, the series features three T20Is followed by three ODIs.

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For the Men in Blue, former India opener Gautam Gambhir will be making his debut as head coach, and the team will adjust to the T20I retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, for the hosts, legendary all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the interim head coach.