Dinesh Chandimal urges the ICC to allow a substitute player to bat and bowl

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should allow the substitute player brought in the first hour for an injured player to bat and bowl during a match. According to the newly appointed captain, Asela Gunaratne’s absence became a huge factor in Sri Lanka’s loss as the team missed his services. Gunaratne fractured his thumb on the first day’s play of the first Test match at Galle trying to take a catch.

Chandimal could not feature in the first match as he fell victim to a lung infection and had to be hospitalized. Fortunately for the team, the player was discharged soon and in time to play the second match. Speaking to the media at Hotel Taj Samudra, where he came for dinner with his wife, Chandimal highlighted the issue.

What Chandimal said:

“I think the authorities should consider this change” said Chandimal. Asela got injured in the first session itself and we badly missed him throughout out the match”.

“I am not saying this (allowing replaced player to bat and ball for the early injured player) because our team would have been benefited but in future also all other teams if meet this situation would welcome it”, he added.

However, Gunaratne has been discharged from the Nawaloka Hospital after a surgery on his fractured thumb. He was also present at the ground to lend his support to the team from the stands. Sri Lanka have already lost Nuwan Pradeep on the first Day of the ongoing second Test match. The growing list of injuries seems to be a major concern for the Lions as they are already on the back foot.

Sri Lanka went with only one pacer in the second encounter and that was Nuwan Pradeep. With Pradeep being sidelined and Angelo Mathews not fit to bowl, Dimuth Karunaratne will have to try out his part time abilities.