Sri Lanka’s Test captain, Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup 2018 as he has failed to recover from a broken finger. He had sustained a finger injury during the SLC T20 League 2018 last Tuesday and after the recent examinations, it has been observed that his injury had not yet sufficiently healed.
Chandimal will be replaced by the wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella in Sri Lanka 16-man squad for the six-nation tournament. His injury will no doubt be a massive blow for Sri Lanka as the experienced batsman has scored over 3000 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 32.69.
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However, Dinesh was going through a rough patch in ODIs thi year as he has amassed just 139 runs in five matches and has failed to bring up even a single half-century. On the other hand, Dickwella’s ODI average is almost the same as Chandimal’s, but the gloveman has a strike rate of 90.45 compared to Chandimal’s 66.82, making him a more attacking option for Sri Lanka.
The Asia Cup was to be Chandimal’s first ODI tournament since making a comeback after serving ICC’s ban for ball-tampering. He last featured in an ODI for Sri Lanka in January this year, against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
Sri Lanka, who are part of Group B in the Asia Cup with Bangladesh and Afghanistan. They will be commencing the tournament with the first game against Bangladesh on September 15, Saturday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While they will lock horns with Afghanistan for their next game on September 17, Monday in Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Sri Lanka squad for Asia Cup 2018:
Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Dhanajaya de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Dilruwan Perera, Amila Aponso, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Lasith Malinga.
