Sri Lankan cricketer Suranga Lakmal has been appointed as the captain of Sri Lankan cricket team for the upcoming third and final Test of the ongoing series against the host Windies that will begin on Saturday (June 23) at Bridgetown. It will be the first ever day/night Test match in West Indies.

This decision has been taken by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after Dinesh Chandimal has been suspended by ICC for one Test due to involving in ball-tampering incident during the previous Test match at St. Lucia.

In their brief statement on Lakmal’s captaincy, SLC said, “Lakmal was appointed as the captain, in the absence of Dinesh Chandimal.”

During the day 2 of the second Test, on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould felt suspicious on Sri Lankan captain Chandimal’s action with the ball as they felt that the Sri Lankan captain was trying to change the ball condition deliberately.

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Before the beginning on day 3, the umpires confirmed it by watching the video footages. The umpires decided to change the ball prior to the day 3 and also decided to award five penalty runs to the Windies team in their running first innings.

Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal protested on that decision as he refused to field his team at the beginning on day 3. Later, he changed his decision and fielded his team after the match referee Javagal Srinath gave him ultimate time to either field the team or forfeit the match. The match resulted in a draw at the end.

Later, it found that Chandimal used some substance on his saliva to shine the ball. Chandimal also admitted that but couldn’t recall what that was. As a result, Chandimal received two suspension points and 100% fine on his match fees. While two suspension points mean a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player, Chandimal is now going to miss the day/night Test match after losing his ball-tampering appeal.

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Moreover, the Sri Lankan head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and the manager Asanka Gurusinha have also come in trouble for that incident. Along with Chandimal, their fates will be also decided on July 10 when a second ICC hearing will take place.

However, before that hearing, Hathurusinghe and Gurusinha can continue to perform their responsibilities.

An ICC statement clarified that news by quoting, “Until the hearing takes place … Hathurusinghe and Gurusinha can continue to perform their professional responsibilities, including in the Barbados Test.”