(Reuters) – Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews will be the cricket team’s stand-up captain for the three-match Twenty20 series in the West Indies after Dasun Shanaka was left stranded by a visa issue, says the cricket board country.
Shanaka was named Sri Lanka’s new Twenty20 captain last week but the 29-year-old player was unable to take the flight he left with his teammates yesterday after failing to arrange a new transit visa for the United States.
“Mathews was appointed by the national selectors as Dasun Shanaka, who was appointed T20 captain for the tour of the West Indies, is yet to join the team due to delays in getting a US transit visa,” said Sri Cricket Lanka’s statement.
“Shanaka faced this issue with the loss of his previous passport, which had a valid US visa stamped on it.
“He is expected to join the team once the matter is resolved.”
Starting Wednesday, Sri Lanka will play three Twenty20 matches, an equal number of one-day internationals, plus two tests – all behind closed doors in Antigua.