Lakmal to lead Sri Lanka in pink-ball Test
Barbados, June 23: Sri Lanka Cricket on Saturday named paceman Suranga Lakmal as skipper for the third and final Test against the West Indies that gets underway here late Saturday -- with a pink ball and under lights.
The decision has come in the aftermath of regular captain Dinesh Chandimal's ban being upheld by the International Cricket Council (ICC) appointed Judicial Commissioner, Michael Beloff, who rejected his appeal against the ball-tampering sanction on Friday.
"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Suranga Lakmal to captain the third Test against West Indies, which will start Saturday. Lakmal was appointed as the captain, in the absence of Dinesh Chandimal," a statement from the board read.
Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was also among the choices to lead the team but SLC revealed on Friday that he split the webbing between his ring and small fingers of his non-bowling hand during training on Thursday and was a doubtful starter for the day-night Test.
Meanwhile, Chandimal faces a lengthy ban after having admitted to the more serious Level three offence which relates to 'conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.'
If found guilty, Chandimal could miss both Test matches against South Africa at home next month.
The Sri Lankans trail the three-match rubber 0-1 after losing the opener at Port of Spain and drawing the second Test at St. Lucia.
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Venur: SDPI files defamation complaint as village ritual video shows participants in Muslim dress
Belthangady: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has filed a complaint with the Venur Police against a group that recently held a ceremony called ‘Purushara Pooje’ in Perladka near Venur, accusing the participants of insulting Muslims.
While the ceremony shows the group dancing around a mound, video clips where people are seen in costumes typically worn by Muslims, are going viral on social media platforms. The participants include a man wearing a skull cap and a woman in a burqa. The man in skull cap is also seen holding the SDPI flag while dancing.
Social media users have accused the group of showing disrespect towards Muslims by degrading their dress sense. The users have also called it an intentional act by the participants.
The representative of the SDPI has further told the police that the sentiments of the party members have been hurt as the party flag was degraded during the ritual.
The SDPI said that ‘Purusharapooje’ was a convention that was regularly carried out in Perladka of Venur, but the ritual was now being misused as a means to degrade Muslims. The participants were made to don dresses like Muslim men, women and also Maulvis during the ceremony. In addition, the flag of the SDPI was used by one of the participants, which was an insult of the party, the complainant has told the police.
The party has also demanded that the authorities arrest the guilty parties and take legal action on them.
SDPI leaders Hamid Venur, Ashraf Badyaru, Nizam Katte, Aslam Maddadka and Rizwan were present on the occasion.
In #Belthangady's #Venur, individuals dressed in #Muslim religious and women's attire performed a dance with the intent to insult the Muslim community.
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) April 15, 2025
At a #Hindu traditional event held in a place called #Purusharakatte, miscreants misused the occasion. A video shows them… pic.twitter.com/zYvR5TW0kq
