Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s captain in the two-match Test series against Australia recently, has been excluded from the Sri Lankan team for the Test series against South Africa in the rainbow nation.

In his place, Dimuth Karunaratne has been named the captain of the team, which will play two Tests, 5 ODIs and three T20I matches against South Africa starting Feb 13, 2019.

Sri Lanka lost the two Tests in Australia by an innings and 40 runs in Brisbane and 366 runs in Canberra under the leadership of Dinesh Chandimal. They have now lost a home series to England 3-0, then away to New Zealand 1-0 to go with their two defeats in Australia.

Sri Lanka had played the second Test without three of their pace spearheads in Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, and Nuwan Pradeep and their batting didn’t last much against a rampaging Mitchell Starc, who picked 10/100 in the match.

"We are a young team and always learning how to play, especially in these tough conditions. We will bounce back in South Africa. South Africa is similar to these conditions and with very good bowlers. We know that as a team we have to play in tough conditions and we need to adjust to those conditions and step up as a team," Chandimal had said after the defeat in the Canberra Test.

But with the recent developments in the Sri Lankan cricket, the board has asked Chandimal to return to First-Class cricket in order to regain some form.

Sri Lanka Test squad vs South Africa:

Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Niroshan Dickwella, (VC) Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhananjaya De Silva, Oshada Fernando, Angelo Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Mohamed Shiraz, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Embuldeniya

(inputs icc-cricket.com)