Two senior players of the Sri Lankan cricket team, including skipper Charith Asalanka, currently touring Pakistan for a T20 tri-series will be returning home due to illness, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stated on Monday in a media release.
SLC said in a media statement that Dasun Shanaka has been appointed skipper for the tri-series, also involving the host and Zimbabwe which began Tuesday (18), while fast bowler Asitha Fernando has been replaced by Pavan Rathnayake.
“Two players returning home: Captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home. The two players will not take part in the tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe,” wrote SLC on X. The board did not elaborate on the nature of the illness.
SLC added that the two had been called back so that they could receive proper medical care ahead of the busy season.
“This precautionary decision ensures they receive proper care and sufficient time to recover ahead of future assignments. Dasun Shanaka to captain with Asalanka unavailable. Pavan Rathnayake has been added to the T20I squad as a replacement,” it added.
Several players of the Sri Lankan team wanted to return home due to security concerns following a deadly suicide attack in Islamabad recently but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi assured them of watertight security, following which the tourists decided to stay.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka were to clash in the second ODI of the three-match series in Rawalpindi on 13 November, but that game was postponed to 14 November, while the third match was rescheduled from 15 to 16 November at the same venue.
The PCB also rescheduled the T20I tri-series opener between Pakistan and Zimbabwe from 17 to 18 November, besides making Rawalpindi the sole venue for the tournament amid increasing security concerns.
The second game of the seven-match rubber was also postponed by a day to 20 November.
Before the rescheduling, Lahore was to host five games of the tri-series event, including the final on 29 November, but the three boards agreed to hold the proceedings exclusively in Rawalpindi.
The Government also handed over the security of the Sri Lankan team to the Pakistan military forces after they agreed to continue the tour following the bomb blast that rocked Islamabad, killing 12 people and injuring dozens.
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