Sri Lanka to have a new ODI skipper
Colombo: Sri Lanka is set to name a new ODI captain next week, replacing current skipper Thisara Perera with either Angelo Mathews or Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said.
Both Mathews and Chandimal have led the ODI side in the past, while Perera had captained Sri Lanka in the recent ODIs against India.
Mathews had stepped down from captaincy across all formats following the loss against Zimbabwe in July last year, while Chandimal, who is currently leading the Test team, had lost his place in the ODI squad last month.
"The Chairman of selectors has informed me that they are considering appointing either Angelo Mathews or Dinesh Chandimal to fill the role," SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said.
The SLC sources said the new head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe is focused on the 2019 World Cup and wants a permanent solution to the captaincy problem.
A final decision regarding the captaincy will be taken on January 9 before Sri Lanka leaves for the ODI tri-series in Bangladesh.
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Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleges ₹1 crore bribe offer for Padma award during UPA regime
New Delhi: Former Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has alleged that he was offered a bribe of ₹1 crore for a Padma award during the Congress-led UPA regime in 2010. Chandrasekhar claimed that the offer was made in recognition of his contributions to the telecom sector.
The BJP leader made this revelation on January 5 through a post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the UPA government of corrupt practices in awarding civilian honours. The Padma Awards, which include Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, are among India’s highest civilian awards, recognising excellence in various fields such as arts, education, literature, and science.
Chandrasekhar's allegations came shortly after US President Joe Biden conferred the Medal of Freedom on several dignitaries, including billionaire philanthropist George Soros, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and football legend Lionel Messi.
There has been no immediate response or denial from any members of the former UPA government regarding the allegations.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Rajya Sabha MP from 2006 to 2024, served as the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship from 2021 to 2024.
