Pallekele: Sri Lankan skipper Upul Tharanga was banned Friday for two ODIs for slow over rate in the rain-affected second game against India.
Andy Pycroft of the ‘Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees’ imposed the suspension after the Sri Lanka side were ruled to be three overs short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration even as the match was reduced to 47 overs for the Indian chase.
In accordance with Article 2.5.2 of the ICC code of conduct for players and player support personnel, which relates to serious over-rate offences, players were fined 10 per cent of their match fees for the first two overs and 20 per cent of their match fees for the third over their side failed to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain also receiving two suspension points.
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 game here (August 27) and Colombo (August 31) respectively.
Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
Sri Lanka also have made two changes to their squad, bringing in Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal, who was initially left out of the ODI team, and batsman Lahiru Thirimanne for at least the next two matches.
Thirimanne has been brought into the side because opener Danushka Gunathilaka injured his shoulder whilst fielding Thursday and is expected to miss a minimum of two ODIs.
Surprisingly, Chandimal will not be leading the side in the third and fourth ODIs. Instead, Chamara Kapugedara, who scored 40 in the second ODI, has been chosen skipper.
It could be a blessing in disguise for the hosts as Tharanga had been suffering from poor form across all formats. He only scored 88 runs in six innings in the three Tests and failed again in the first two ODIs with scores of nine and 13.
Sri Lanka squad: Chamara Kapugedara (C), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanna, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Milinda Siriwardana, Malinda Pushpakumara, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera Vishwa Fernando and Upul Tharanga (for fifth ODI).
Agencies