Sri Lanka's batting talisman Upul Tharanga has been chosen to captain the country's five One Day International matches against South Africa after skipper Angelo Mathews returned home with a sprained ankle.
The 31-year-old left-hand-batsman will captain the ODI against South Africa starting in Port Elizabeth this Saturday, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced.
Mathews had informed the Sri Lanka Cricket management that he may need to take time off in order to be with his family.
A hamstring injury in the second T- 20 on Sunday ruled him out of the match forcing the skipper to make an early exit for the rest of the series.
The third T20 international is scheduled for January 25.
Meanwhile, Seam-bowling all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka and wicketkeeper-batsman Sandun Weerakkody have received their maiden call-ups in ODIs and are due to join the squad already in South Africa along with left-arm spinning allrounder Chaturanga de Silva, who has played six ODIs.
Sri Lanka will play five ODI matches on January 28 at Port Elizabeth, February 1 at Durban, February 4 at Johannesburg, February 7 at Cape Town and on February 10 at Centurion.