Wellalage set to join Sri Lanka squad ahead of Super Four stage having gone back home following his father’s demise.
After returning home after his father, Suranga Wellalage, passed away on Thursday, Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage is scheduled to rejoin the team on Saturday morning for the Asia Cup. He will be available for selection for Sri Lanka’s Super Four round opener against Bangladesh in Dubai on Saturday night, according to Sri Lanka Cricket.
Team manager Mahinda Halangode, who travelled home with Wellalage on Thursday night, is travelling with him from Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates and back.
On September 18, the day his son Dunith participated in the Group B match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, Suranga Wellalage passed away. The 22-year-old Wellalage didn’t find out about his father’s passing until after the game, in which Sri Lanka prevailed by six wickets with eight balls left to go to the Super Four round. He headed home shortly after the game was over.
Only Wellalage’s fifth Twenty20 International and his first in this tournament was the Sri Lanka vs. Afghanistan match. He did not bat, and he took 1 for 49. With his career-best 5 for 27 in the third ODI against India in Colombo in August 2024, Wellalage has participated in 31 ODIs. In 2023, when the Asia Cup was played in the ODI format, he too took 5 for 40 against India. He took 10 wickets at an average of 17.90, which tied him for second place in that competition.
Sri Lanka’s next two Super Four matches are against India on September 26 and Pakistan on September 23, following their match against Bangladesh on Saturday.