Dhananjaya de Silva backs out from West Indies tour after father’s murder

The death of a parent itself can be a traumatic experience for any individual but if the word ‘murder’ is involved then the whole situation can become even more intense for everyone involved. Such is the predicament that Sri Lankan all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva currently finds himself in after the murder of his father by two unidentified gunmen last night.

Silva has immediately withdrawn himself from the Sri Lankan squad that is set to travel to West Indies in their upcoming tour after last night’s incident. Silva’s father Ranjan, a local politician, was killed in Ratmalana, in the Sri Lankan capital of  Colombo, close to midnight on Thursday as per police reports. An investigation of the murder is ongoing but no arrests have been made as of yet.

Sri Lankan cricket officials confirmed that Silva has opted out of the upcoming tour against West Indies which involved a total of three Test matches. Officials have also added that there will be no last-gasp replacement added in Silva’s place for the Windies tour.

"There will be no replacement for Dhananjaya. Instead of a 17-member squad, we will now have 16," a board member told AFP.

Apart from Silva’s absence, Sri Lanka will also miss the services of opener Dimuth Karunaratne who fractured a finger while batting in the nets earlier this month as he practiced for a domestic tournament.

Revised Sri Lanka squad: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Mahela Udawatte, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Roshen Silva, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Gamage, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, and Asitha Fernando.