Sri Lanka ODI captain Thisara Perera ousted

As if there is no end to miseries in Sri Lankan cricket, here’s another addition on the list. The management on Thursday ousted Thisara Perera as the One-Day International captain and said it would announce a replacement next week.

Perera had taken over the duty in November 2017 succeeding Upul Tharanga, who was also ousted after a series of embarrassing losses to India at home and in the series against Pakistan in the UAE. Perera’s successor will be named after consulting new coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

“During the discussion, the chairman of selectors informed me that they are considering appointing either Angelo Mathews or Dinesh Chandimal to fill the role,” the SLC quoted its President Thilanga Sumathipala as saying. According to SLC sources coach, Hathurusingha wants a permanent solution to the captaincy problem before the start of the 2019 ODI World Cup in England.

Perera succeeded Mathews

Tharanga was named stand-in captain when Angelo Mathews was injured in South Africa in January, following which Mathew resigned after the drubbing against Zimbabwe in July and he took up the job permanently.

Under Tharanga, the Islanders suffered three 5-0 whitewashes this year against South Africa, India and Pakistan respectively, after which he was axed and Perera was entrusted with the responsibility. But their fortunes didn’t change as Sri Lanka recently lost the limited-overs series against India.

Mathews to become the captain again?

As per another news, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are in the running to be appointed the next captain of Sri Lanka’s ODI squad. Both Mathews and Chandimal have led the 50-over side in the past.

The decision was unanimously taken in a meeting attended by SLC office bearers, selectors and Hathurusingha.

“During the discussion, the Chairman of selectors informed me that they are considering appointing either Angelo Mathews or Dinesh Chandimal to fill the role,” ESPNcricinfo quoted SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala, as saying.

The final call on the captaincy will be taken on January 9, before the team departs for the ODI tri-series in Bangladesh.