All-rounder Angelo Mathews has been removed as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain and succeeded by Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal.

This is the the second time Mathews has been relieved of the ODI leadership and comes after Sri Lanka’s early exit from this month’s Asia Cup.

The past 18 months have also seen batsmen Upul Tharanga and Chamara Kapugedara, seamer Lasith Malinga and all-rounder Thisara Perera captain the ODI XI.

‘The national selectors on Sunday, decided to appoint Chandimal as the ODI captain to lead the team in the upcoming England series,’ read a media release from Sri Lanka Cricket.

‘Accordingly, they have requested Angelo to relinquish his duties as the national ODI and T20I captain with immediate effect.’

The 31-year-old Mathews was ODI captain from 2013 to mid-2017, but eventually resigned. He was reinstated earlier this year.

Sri Lanka will host England for five ODIs and a one-off T20I in October. These will be followed by three Tests through November.

The Sri Lankans are also in preparation for next year’s World Cup in the United Kingdom. Their campaign will open against New Zealand at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales, on 1 June. They will meet South Africa at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, Durham, on 28 June.

Photo: Getty Images