Three Sri Lankan players fly back home for national duty, ending their stint in BPL 2017

The Sri Lankan players, Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera have already taken the flight to their country for national duties and thereby ended their stint with the Rangpur Riders franchise in BPL 2017. The duo has been called up to attend the fitness camp organised by the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), before the start of the limited-overs series against India.

The BPL franchise also announced that the veteran Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga will also join his national teammates on November 29, after being granted a special permission to play his last fixture against Sylhet Sixers on November 28.

Thisara has been instrumental for the Riders in the tournament so far. He has surely come out as a match-winner especially in the previous two games for the franchise who are currently placed on the fifth rank with four wins in eight matches. While the other Perera, who is a keeper batsman has only featured in a single game and his absence will not make a major difference as Mohammad Mithun will take the duties replacing the Lankan cricketer. The Riders will also surely miss their specialist bowler, Malinga who has been great with the ball in the opening as well in the end overs.

National duty call-up

Sri Lanka were out beaten by the hosts in the second Test match at Nagpur by a massive margin and the three-match Test series scoreline also reads 1-0, with the Indians gaining the upper hand. While the visitors would also want to make a comeback in the final Test match on Saturday in Delhi.

They would also have one eye on the limited-overs series, consisting of 3 ODIs and 3 T20s and will want their players to be fresh and fit to perform well on the tour. Which is why, the SLC has called all the national players back home, who were playing in the Bangladesh Premier League 2017.

“On 28 and 29 November, fitness test will be held for Sri Lankan players. All players are called up who are in the camp for the ODI and T20I series against India. That’s why SLC have permitted them to play till 27 November. Malinga have been given a special permission and he will leave on 29 November after playing the match against Sylhet Sixers on 28 November,” said the Riders franchise on departure of the Lankan players back home.