Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva will not travel with the team for their West Indies tour following his father’s killing, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on Friday.
Sri Lankan media reported local politician Ranjan De Silva, 62, was killed by an unidentified gunman on Thursday, just a day before his son was to depart to the Caribbean for the three-test tour starting June 6.
SL top order batsman Dhananjaya de Silva's Father, SLPP Dehiwala, Mt Lavinia Councillor K Ranjan de Silva (62) allies 'Mahathun' has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Ratmalana this evening. He was also the father of fmr SLPP Councillor Savithra de Silva. pic.twitter.com/AWDf79JraJ
— Thilanka Kanakarathna (@thilanka1991) May 24, 2018
“We are extremely shocked, perturbed and saddened by the great loss suffered by Dhananjaya and his family,” SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said in a statement.
“Sri Lanka Cricket will take every measure to support Dhananjaya at this time of sorrow and grief for him and his family, while giving him time to overcome the great pain and suffering caused by this tragedy.”
The first of three tests against the West Indies begins at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.
