Asia Cup: Dunith Wellalage Returns Home Following Father’s Passing
Dunith Wellalage, the promising Sri Lankan all-rounder, returned home to Katunayake on Thursday after learning of the sudden passing of his father, Suranga Wellalage. The 22-year-old flew back from Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways flight EY-392, accompanied by an official from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
Suranga Wellalage, a former cricketer, passed away on September 18 at the age of 54 due to a reported heart attack. Dunith was only informed of his father’s death after Sri Lanka’s victory over Afghanistan in their Asia Cup Group B match in Dubai. The team secured a six-wicket win with eight balls remaining, which qualified them for the Super Four stage of the tournament.
Following the match, Dunith immediately left for home, and it appears unlikely that he will return for the remainder of the Asia Cup. The Sri Lankan team is scheduled to face Bangladesh on September 20, Pakistan on September 23, and India on September 26.
This match marked Wellalage’s fifth T20 International and his first appearance in the Asia Cup. He has also featured in 31 ODIs, recording his career-best bowling figures of 5 for 27 against India in Colombo in August 2024.
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