Sri Lankan captain Tharanga suspended for two games

Sri Lanka's captain Upul Tharanga walks off after being dismissed during the ICC Champions Trophy match against South Africa at the Oval on Saturday. Reuters

London: Sri Lanka's stand-in captain Upul Tharanga has been suspended for two matches due to his team's slow over rate in Saturday's Champions Trophy game against South Africa, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said.

Sri Lanka completed their 50 overs more than half-an-hour behind schedule during the 96-run defeat by the South Africans at the Oval.

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"Tharanga pleaded guilty to the offense and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing," the ICC said in a statement.

Tharanga, deputizing as captain for the injured Angelo Mathews, will miss Sri Lanka's remaining Group B matches against India and Pakistan.