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Ailing Sri Lanka captain Chandimal out of Galle test

Ailing Sri Lanka captain Chandimal out of Galle test

By REUTERS

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot on day three of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Thursday, July 28, 2016. Photo: AP

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal will miss next week's first test against India after being diagnosed with pneumonia, dealing a big blow to the hosts ahead of the three-test home series against their neighbours. The 27-year-old was named test captain earlier this month after long-serving skipper Angelo Mathews stepped down following Sri Lanka's first one-day international series defeat to Zimbabwe. The right-handed batsman then led Sri Lanka to a win in the one-off test against the same opposition. 'Chandimal was down with flu and was taken to the hospital this morning,' a Sri Lanka Cricket spokesman told Reuters. The first test against Virat Kohli-led India starts on Wednesday at Galle. 'We were actually only told late last night - the blood test came a bit late. He's got pneumonia,' Asanka Gurusinha, Sri Lanka's cricket manager, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 'He was admitted to hospital this morning at 9 AM (local time), and he's definitely out of the first test.' Sri Lanka have limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga in the side while spin spearhead Rangana Herath has also lead the side last year in the absence of Mathews.