Upul Tharanga to lead Sri Lanka in tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and West Indies

31-year-old Upul Tharanga has been given the leadership mantle and was named as the stand-in skipper for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) tri-series, featuring Zimbabwe and West Indies, the national selectors announced on Saturday (November 5).

The decision was taken due to the absence of regular captain Angelo Mathews and vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal. Kusal Janith Perera has now been appointed Tharanga’s deputy in the 15-man squad. Kusal Janith Perera will act as Tharanga’s deputy during the series. The seven-match tournament is scheduled to begin on November 14.

While Mathews pulled out of the tour after MRI scans revealed multiple leg injuries, Chandimal was hopeful of playing the ODI-leg of the Zimbabwe tour after undergoing a surgery for a thumb injury. There were reports of him regaining full fitness but it has now been confirmed that he will not be part of the limited-overs team.

Tharanga a veteran of 188 ODIs has scored a total of 5526 runs at an average of 32.89 with a highest of 174 against India in 2013 at the Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica in a tri-series what also involved the West Indies.

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Asela Gunaratne and Lahiru Kumara – who made their debut in the first Test – have earned a maiden call-up for the ODI squad, while Shehan Jayasuriya, Nuwan Kulasekara and Jeffrey Vandersay have been recalled.

Sri Lanka squad: Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Janith Perera (w & v/c), Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga (c), Kusal Mendis, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asela Gunaratne, Sachith Pathirana, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dasun Shanaka, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Jeffrey Vandersay.

Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe 2016 – ODI. #ZIMvSL pic.twitter.com/yRgqYBs8P7

— Sarath Chandran (@ImSarathC) November 6, 2016