Suranga Wellalage, the father of Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, died on Thursday, 18 September, which was also the day Dunith took part in his first match of this year’s Asia Cup against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. Wellalage has returned home and he was accompanied by team manager Mahinda Halangoda. According to sources, the 22-year-old took an early flight to Colombo to be with his grieving family.
The tragic news reached Wellalage in the dressing room in Abu Dhabi shortly after Sri Lanka’s last group-stage match against Afghanistan, which they won.
The team management received the news during the high-intensity match but chose to inform Wellalage only after the game had concluded.
Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, who was visibly emotional, was seen consoling the young spinner after the match.
With the ball, the left-arm spinner had a tough outing. After conceding just 17 runs in his first three overs, he finished with figures of 1 for 49 from four overs. In his final over, he was hit for 32 runs, as veteran Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi smashed five sixes. Wellalage was not required to bat in the second innings.
Now that he has returned home, it remains to be seen whether Sri Lanka will name a replacement or if Wellalage will rejoin the squad. Janith Liyanage was earlier added to the squad, taking the count to 17 members.
Sri Lanka, undefeated in the tournament so far, are scheduled to play at least three more matches: against Bangladesh on 20 September, Pakistan on 23 September, and India on 26 September.
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