Tharanga will replace Mathews as captain for the ODI series against South Africa

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Upul Tharanga has been named as Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain for the upcoming five-match ODI series against South Africa.

Tharanga will take over the captaincy on a temporary basis after regular skipper Angelo Mathews returned home on “personal grounds” and due to an ankle injury he sustained in the second Twenty20 International against the Proteas.

This is not the first time Tharanga has captained Sri Lanka as he also led them to victory in an ODI tri-series involving Zimbabwe and the West Indies in November.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have called up the uncapped duo of Lahiru Madushanka and Sandun Weerakkody. Madushanka is an all-rounder, while Weerakkody is a wicketkeeper-batsman.

The pair were handed their maiden call-ups to the national team due to the fact that fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep and opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka also returned home with hand and back injuries respectively.

Sri Lanka’s ODI Squad: Upul Tharanga (capt.), Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thikshila de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Madushanka, Asela Gunaratne, Sandun Weerakkody, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Mendis, Chaturanga de Silva,Sachith Pathirana, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana.