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[caption id="attachment_53375" align="alignnone" width="580"] Laisth Malinga will lead Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI against India at R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday. Image Source: Xtra Time[/caption] Debasis Sen, Colombo: Veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been named the captain of Sri Lanka for the fourth ODI against India to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday. The appointment comes after doubts were expressed over fitness of stand-in skipper Chamara Kapugedara who led Sri Lanka in the third ODI. Kapugedara, who was appointed Sri Lanka’s stand-in-skipper after regular skipper Upul Tharanga received a two-match ban for a serious violation of a slow overate during the second ODI, has aggravated a back injury during the third ODI in Pallekele. Malinga led Sri Lanka to the T20 World title in 2014, the country’s second global trophy after the 1996 World Cup victory. Malinga is one wicket away from reaching 300 wickets in limited-over cricket. “We have appointed Lasith Malinga to lead the side, “ Jayasuriya said. Malinga had earlier led Sri Lanka to T20 World title in 2014. However, according to sources Kapugedera have forcefully been rested for the next match, largely due to his wrong decision of choosing the bat first after winning the toss at Pallekele. SLC said in the statement that Kapugedera has been ruled out due to back injury. But sources revealed that The team management was not happy with his decision to opting bat first.

The Sri Lanka team management had decided to choose the field for the third ODI, if they would win the toss. but, Kapugedera stunned one and all by choosing to bat first, and eventually the team lost the match embracingly by six wickets and conceded the series 3-0, even as two matches are yet to be played.

“Nobody knows why he opted to bat,“ a stunned member of the Lanka support staff was quoted as saying by local media. Sri Lanka Cricket is passing through some tough times in recent times. Following the ODI series loss to India, the selection committee led by Sanath Jayasurya has relinquished from their post. The selectors in a letter to the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara have submitted their resignation after the ODI series against India. In a statement, the former dashing opener said, “We the National Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket have decided after serious consideration and deliberation to resign from our position at the end of the ongoing Indian series.We wish to state this decision is made in the best interest of the game, which is being damaged and hindered by undue criticism and false allegations instigated by interested parties with malicious intent.This instigation has led to a public outcry, which in both the short and long term is damaging the present and the future of the game by demoralizing the players and creating an unfair, untrue and hurtful image of the team, the coaching staff, the selectors, and the administration.” The announcement came after the hosts faced a humiliating loss at Pallekele. Fans, tired of thumping losses, leadership changes and mismanagement, booed the home side and lobbed bottles as they approached inevitable defeat at Pallekele. Play was stopped for about half an hour, after which India recorded a six-wicket win.”The selection panel felt they should step down, allowing the board to appoint a fresh set of selectors in view of the criticism and the crowd reaction on Sunday,” a source close to Jayasuriya told the media.