Chandimal, Hathuru, and Gurusingha to miss SA Tests

12 July 2018 06:57 am

Sri Lanka will go into the two-match Test  series  against South Africa without their  skipper Dinesh Chandimal, coach Chandika Hathurusingha and manager Asanka Gurusingha,, after the ICC concluded its hearing on the trio, who had pleaded guilty to a level three spirit of cricket offence.

The ICC tweeted last night that the judicial commissioner would announce his decision in "due course". In the interim, Chandimal, Hathurusingha and Gurusinha will serve a two-match suspension at least. The hearing, which began at roughly 6pm Sri Lanka time on Wednesday, went for more than five hours.

They were charged with a level 3 offence after they delayed the proceeding for at least for two hours on the third day in St Lucia Test in the West Indies over a ball-tampering charge against the Sri Lankan skipper

They will receive a minimum suspension of two Tests despite Sri Lanka appealing for a leaner punishment.

Chandimal has already served a one-match suspension for tampering as he missed the third Test against West Indies. In his absence Suranga Lakmal will lead the side while batting coach Tilan Samaraweera will oversee the coaching aspect as Hathurusingha is not allowed in the dressing room.