Chandimal, Tharanga to captain SL teams

Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga

Sri Lanka appointed two new captains to replace Angelo Mathews, who resigned after his side's humiliating home series defeat to bottom-ranked Zimbabwe.

Dinesh Chandimal will lead the Test side while Upul Tharanga will captain in limited-overs matches, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said.

Turbulent phase
The reshuffle caps a turbulent period for the Sri Lankan side, whose loss to Zimbabwe followed a fitness and coaching crisis and an early departure from the Champions Trophy. "Mathews tendered his resignation a short while ago this morning," said SLC chief Thilanga Sumathipala said. "We want to regroup and restructure and move forward."

Cash for ground staff
Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday offered cash and new clothes to groundsmen who were forced to hand in the uniforms they were wearing before being paid their wages.

Dozens of casual labourers left the Hambantota Stadium on Monday in their underwear after they were forced to hand back the uniforms they had been provided.

"The way they were treated is unacceptable and I have ordered that they be given a new set of clothes plus an extra day's wages," board chief Thilanga Sumathipala said. "It is inhuman and slavery." Soon after the news broke on Tuesday, the board had issued a formal apology.