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In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Sri Lanka‘s promising all-rounder Dunith Wellalage faced the personal tragedy of his father’s passing in the middle of a high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 tournament. The news, which broke after a crucial Asia Cup group-stage victory, saw the young cricketer depart for home to be with his grieving family.
A tragic event with Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage
Wellalage’s world was turned upside down on Thursday, September 18, when his father, Suranga Wellalage, died from a heart attack. The devastating news reached him only after Sri Lanka had secured a vital six-wicket win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi. A visibly shaken Wellalage was seen being comforted by team manager Mahinda Halangode and coach Sanath Jayasuriya before he left the team to be with his family in Colombo.
Tributes poured in from across the cricketing world for his father, a respected school cricketer, and the somber mood cast a long shadow over the team’s victory celebrations. The question on every fan’s mind was whether he would be able to overcome this immense personal loss and return to represent his country for the remainder of the campaign. His absence left a void, but a decision has been made, bringing a mix of relief and solemn determination to the Sri Lankan camp.
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Will Wellalage available for the Super 4 game against Bangladesh?
In a display of immense courage and dedication, Dunith Wellalage has chosen to return to the squad and is available for selection for Sri Lanka’s first Super Four match. The young all-rounder rejoined the team on Saturday morning, just in time for their clash against Bangladesh in Dubai.
Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that Wellalage will be available for selection for their crucial match against Bangladesh, scheduled for Saturday evening in Dubai. Wellalage’s return is a significant boost for the team, as his left-arm spin and lower-order batting have been valuable assets. He had an expensive spell in his last match against Afghanistan, but his past performances highlight his potential to be a game-changer. His return comes at a vital time for Sri Lanka, which also has Super Four games against Pakistan and India scheduled for September 23 and September 26, respectively. His availability will be a source of strength for a team looking to defend its title and overcome the toughest challenges in the tournament.
Dunith Wellalage, who returned home to pay his last respects to his late father, will rejoin the team tomorrow morning.
He will travel to the UAE tonight accompanied by Team Manager Mahinda Halangode.
Sri Lanka will begin its Super Four stage campaign of the ongoing tournament… pic.twitter.com/ST16buupH3
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 19, 2025
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