Lahore, Pakistan – Sri Lanka โขcricketer dunith Wellalage learned of his โฃfather’s passing following his team’s victory over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup on Saturday.Suranga Wellalage,Dunith’s father,died โขdue toโค a heart attack.
The news was broken to Wellalage by Sri Lanka coach Sanath Jayasuriya andโ the team manager after the match โคconcluded. Visuals circulating online show Jayasuriya โconsoling the visibly โdistraught cricketer, placingโค aโค hand on his shoulder.
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Russell Arnold confirmed the news duringโ commentary on the Sony Sports Network, noting Suranga Wellalage โwas also aโฃ cricketer who captained Prince of Wales College. “Dunith โขwellalage’s father,Suranga,passed away just a while ago. He played a bit of cricket to. You know how big ourโ school cricketโ scene is. He captained Prince of Wales Collegeโ when โคI captained my school, St Peter’s,” Arnold saeid.He added,”Quite sad to hear that. The newsโฃ was broken to Dunith justโฃ a while ago. โAnd our condolences to the family. The celebrations will be muted. The โteam is a tight place,the dressingโค room. Hopefully, this โbonds them and helpsโ them go on and doโ well in the superโข 4 โคstage.”
Wellalage had a challengingโค match, โconceding 49 runs in four overs, including 32 runs in the final over โฃof Afghanistan’s innings where mohammad Nabi hit five sixes. Afghanistan finished with 169/8.
Sri Lankaโ successfully chased theโ target, winning by six wickets with eight ballsโ remaining. Kusalโฃ Mendis scored โan unbeatenโ 74, and Kamindu Mendis contributed an unbeaten 26 โขoff 13 balls.
With this โwin, Sri Lanka qualified for the โขSuper 4s stage alongsideโข Bangladesh from Group B, eliminating Afghanistan from the tournament. Sri Lanka will next face Bangladesh in theโฃ Super 4s on โSaturday at the Dubai International Stadium.