Sri Lanka Test Captain Dimuth Karunaratne (on right) sits with Dasun Shanaka on a motor bike given to them as a prize after Sri Lanka won the third ODI against Bangladesh at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 31 July 2019. Photo courtesy Ishara S. Kodikara[/caption]
As India do away with the idea of having two separate Captains for the ODI and T20I cricket formats, Sri Lanka are likely to have one Captain for both Test and ODI cricket, while having a separate one for only the T20Is.
Currently Sri Lanka Test captaincy is held by Dimuth Karunaratne. Dasun Shanaka was appointed Captain for both the white-ball formats - ODIs and T20Is - in July after the team’s disastrous England white-ball tour.
Yet, since then, all-rounder Shanaka had failed miserably to contribute to the team’s cause, either with bat or ball, though his leadership credential had been hardly questioned.
The story doing the rounds nowadays in the local cricket circles is that Karunaratne may be reappointed as Sri Lanka ODI Captain, in addition to him being the Test leader of the country.
The fact that Karunaratne’s leadership skills were amply supported by his stupendous batting record in recent times in the Test arena only adds impetus to the argument.