Tharanga misses India and Pakistan matches in Champions Tropy

Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket for 57 during the ICC Champions Trophy match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at The Oval in London on June 3, 2017.

According to ICC regulations, teams are required to bowl their allotted overs within three and half hours, but the Sri Lankans took four hours and seven minutes to complete the 50 overs. Apart from being suspended, Tharanga was also fined heavily. The entire Sri Lankan team was fined as well. Sri Lanka were without the services of captain Angelo Mathews for the opening fixture due to a calf strain and Tharanga led the side in his absence.

The suspension of stand-in captain Upul Tharanga for Sri Lanka’s remaining two games of the Champions Trophy comes as a bitter blow. Tharanga was suspended for the games against India and Pakistan after Sri Lanka’s horrendous slow over rate during their opening fixture of the tournament against South Africa at The Oval.