Asalanka to take over from Hasaranga as Sri Lanka skipper

by Rex Clementine

Star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga’s two-match suspension means his schoolmate Charith Asalanka will take over as Sri Lanka’s captain during the national cricket team’s tour of Bangladesh starting next week.

Accordingly, Asalanka will lead the country in the first two T-20 Internationals as Hasaranga remains suspended. Asalanka is the understudy for Hasaranga in T-20 cricket and Kusal Mendis in ODI cricket and many believe it is only a matter of time before the 26-year-old leads Sri Lanka across all formats.

From the far off Elpitiya, Asalanka ended up at Richmond College, Galle after passing the Grade Five Scholarship. More than education it was cricket that Asalanka excelled in at Richmond and soon was spotted by the national selectors.

Asalanka captained Sri Lanka Under-19 to the UK in 2016 where the team won the unofficial Test series and blanked England Under-19 3-0 in the ODIs. He also went on to captain the nation at the ICC Youth World Cup. Former great Roy Dias, who functioned as the Head Coach of the Under-19 side had earmarked Asalanka for great things moving forward.

Having made his international debut three years ago, Asalanka has come up with some match-winning performances over the years. His feats batting under pressure has been a hallmark. More importantly in a day and age where many young players have been cautioned, fined or sanctioned for indiscipline, Asalanka has moved around with his head held high.

Asalanka’s elevation to captaincy comes after ICC Match Referee Chris Broad suspended the Sri Lankan captain for bringing the game into disrepute during the third T-20 International at Dambulla where Hasaranga argued with the umpire. He was charged by the umpires and the Match Referee found him guilty handing a 50 percent fine of the match fee apart from the suspension.

Hasaranga faulted with umpire Lyndon Hannibal for not calling a no ball for a high full toss in the last over of the Sri Lankan innings. The ball to Kamindu Mendis was not just waist high but chest high and should have been called a no ball and a free hit given. Sri Lanka went on to lose a close encounter by three runs. A win would have seen them clean sweeping the Afghans in all three formats.

Sri Lanka will play three T-20 Internationals and three ODIs against Bangladesh followed by two Test matches. Their next assignment is the T-20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States.