“Tharanga has been suspended from his side’s upcoming matches against India and Pakistan”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga will his side’s next two Champions Trophy matches after pleading guilty to an over-rate offence.

Tharanga will not be available for selection for Sri Lanka’s games against India and Pakistan on June 8 and 12 respectively after it took more than four overs for his side to bowl their 50 overs in their Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on Saturday.

Sri Lanka were found to be four overs short even when time allowances were taken in consideration. As a result, the rest of the players were all fined 60 per cent of their match fee.

Tharanga, who also received two suspension points, had been standing in as captain for the match since regular skipper Angelo Mathews failed a late fitness test.

“Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said. “As two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player, Tharanga has been suspended from his side’s upcoming matches against India and Pakistan, while each of his players have received a fine of 60 per cent.”

Tharanga conceded that, during the match, he had been warned that his side were falling behind the over-rate.

“I think we were too slow to change over between overs,” he said. “The umpires had told us that we were lagging, after 10 overs that we were two overs behind. In the last few overs it’s hard to catch up, because you need some time at the death.”