Upul Tharanga to Captain ODI matches against South Africa

Upul Tharanga to Captain ODI matches against South Africa

Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka’s 31-year-old batting talisman has been chosen to captain the country’s five One Day International matches against South Africa starting in Port Elizabeth this Saturday (28).

The left-hand-batsman will captain the ODI series in South Africa in the absence of Angelo Mathews who returned home this week. Mathews had informed the management of Sri Lanka Cricket that he may need to take time off to be with his family. A hamstring injury on the 2nd T- 20 on Sunday ruled him out of the match forcing the skipper to make an early exit for the rest of the series. Both Nuwan Pradeep and Dhanushka Gunathilaka also returned to Sri Lanka on Tuesday owing to their injuries.

Meanwhile the Selectors have nominated the following players to join the squad in South Africa.

As replacement for Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Pradeep and Danushka Gunathilaka

Sandun Weerakkody

Lahiru Madushanka and

Chathuranga de Silva

The ODI matches schedule is as follows:

January 28 – Port Elizabeth

February 1 – Durban

February 4 – Johannesburg

February 7 – Cape Town

February 10 – Centurion