BCCI releases IPL schedule, Rohit reveals his IPL batting position and more - Cricket News Today, 19th March 2019

Dimuth Karunaratne enters Sri Lanka’s ODI captaincy fray

After a thrilling 2-0 Test series win in South Africa, Sri Lanka were whitewashed in the ODI series 5-0. In fact, the Islanders have been far from impressive in white-ball cricket. Since September 2018, they have just won one ODI.

There has been a lot of chopping and changing and captains have been at the forefront of this chopping and changing. Angelo Mathews was sacked as ODI captain after Sri Lanka’s early exit from the Asia Cup. Dinesh Chandimal didn’t last long either as Lasith Malinga was handed the reigns. Now, after a dismal show in South Africa, Dimuth Karunaratne is being looked upon.

The left-handed opener led Sri Lanka to a memorable Test series win in South Africa. However, he hasn’t played an ODI in the last four years. The last time he donned the Sri Lankan jersey in a 50-over game was back in the 2015 World Cup. Karunaratne who had signed up to play county cricket this year for Hampshire might ascend to the ODI captaincy.

“The selectors haven't confirmed anything, but they've told me to keep in mind there's a possibility I could become one-day captain. They've asked me to stay back for the provincial tournament. If I get picked for the World Cup squad, there will be camps and training after that as well, so I might not be able to go to Hampshire in those months,” Karunaratne was quoted saying by ESPNcricinfo.