Sri Lanka’s suspended opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka was left out yesterday from the 15-man squad to play the five-match one-day international series against the touring South African side.
Gunathilaka, 27, was suspended on Sunday by Sri Lanka Cricket over a “misconduct” charge after a close associate of his was arrested for allegedly raping a Norwegian woman in the team hotel in Colombo. The Sri Lanka board had said Gunathilaka, who was allegedly in the room at the same time but was not arrested, will remain suspended pending a disciplinary inquiry.
It was unclear, however, when the inquiry will begin. His suspension is a blow to Sri Lanka as Gunathilaka was the side’s second-highest-scoring batsman in the 2-0 Test series whitewash completed on Monday.
The ODI series begins on Sunday at Dambulla and ends on August 12 in Colombo. A one-off Twenty20 is due to be played in Colombo on August 14. All-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya, 26, is expected to replace Gunathilaka, while uncapped Prabath Jayasuriya was brought in to the squad.
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan, and Shehan Jayasuriya.

Worcestershire re-sign India’s Ashwin
 Worcestershire have re-signed India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for their final two County Championship matches this season, the Midlands club announced on Monday.
The 31-year-old has received clearance from the Board Of Control for Cricket in India to return to New Road for the First Division matches against Essex and Yorkshire in September.
Ashwin, who helped Worcestershire achieve promotion to the top flight last season, will return to the club following India’s five-Test series in England, which starts at Edgbaston on August 1.
“Ashwin is world class and he loved it at Worcestershire,” county coach Kevin Sharp told the club’s website. “Conversations have been ongoing about him coming back and I’m sure he will be a great fillip for us. He had a massive input for us on and off the field last summer in helping us gain promotion and he is a high-class individual.” 

Anderson regains top Test bowler spot
 Ahead of the crucial five-match Test rubber against India starting August 1, England pace spearhead James Anderson has regained the top spot among ICC Test bowlers in the latest rankings.
Anderson, who scalped nine wickets in the drawn two-Test series against Pakistan at home, has pushed South Africa seamer Kagiso Rabada following the Proteas’ 0-2 loss at the hands of Sri Lanka in the just-concluded two-Test series.
Rabada, who took eight wickets in the series, including a four-for in the opening Test in Galle, dropped to the second spot with 882 points, even as Anderson comfortably rocketed to the top with 892 points.
Behind them is India’s left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja at No. 3 while another Protea Vernon Philander separates No 5-ranked Ravichandran Ashwin from his spin twin.
Among the batsmen, Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s 356 runs in the two Tests helped him gain three places to a career-high No 7 in the rankings, led by banned Australian former captain Steve Smith and followed by India captain Virat Kohli.