Nothing seems to be going Sri Lanka's way at the moment. The constant changes in terms of players and backroom staff have clearly impacted their on-field performances. While Sri Lanka appointed Thisara Perera as captain for the ODI and T20I series against India on Friday, the Sri Lankan board named Chandika Hathurusingha as national team coach who will replace interim coach Nic Pothas after the ODI series.
<img title="Thisara Perera. Pic/PTI" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/dec/Thisara-Perera-pic.jpg" alt="Thisara Perera. Pic/PTI" /> Thisara Perera. Pic/PTI
As part of Sri Lanka's chop-and-change policy, Perera replaced Upul Tharanga to become the seventh change in leadership this year across all formats. "I don't know. They [selectors] gave me the leadership and I will do my best. I don't care about other things," said Perera on the eve of the first ODI here on Saturday. Although Sri Lanka showed some gumption in the recently-concluded three-Test series which India won 1-0, their ODI and T20 form remain dismal. It's been 18 months since Sri Lanka last won a bilateral ODI series after their win over minnows Ireland. Their last T20I series win came in February this year against Australia at home.
To add to Sri Lanka's woes, captain Perera is out of form &ndash; managing just 91 runs and claiming four wickets in the ODIs against Pakistan. "I am giving my 100 per cent. I am looking forward to give my best performance (in the series)," said the captain.
Sri Lanka's selection looks baffling as nine players boarded the flight from Colombo to India for the limited overs series while Test captain Dinesh Chandimal does not find a place in Sri Lanka's ODI team. Perera, though, is confident of his team's preparation. "We had two good sessions over the last two days. We have a nice balance in the side. Hopefully, we can do something special. At the moment, mentally and fitness-wise we have done well," he said. Meanwhile, SL manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed that Delhi Test centurion Dhananjaya de Silva was ruled out of the first ODI.
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IND vs SL: Skipper Thisara Perera's focus only on cricket

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