Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage Loses Father During Asia Cup Match
By Rajdeep Saha | Sep 19, 2025 | 02:25 am
What’s the Story?
Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage endured a heartbreaking personal loss on Thursday, September 18, when his father, Suranga Wellalage, passed away due to a heart attack. The tragic news reached Dunith while he was representing Sri Lanka in their Asia Cup 2025 group-stage match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Dunith was informed about his father’s death only after the conclusion of the game. Sri Lanka secured a six-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.
Confirmation of the News
Former cricketer and broadcaster Russell Arnold confirmed Suranga’s demise on air, shortly after Sri Lanka’s win over Afghanistan. Sri Lankan media outlets reported that Dunith was notified of his father’s passing just after the successful chase of 170 runs.
A photo shared by journalist Damith Weerasinghe captured a poignant moment where the team manager was comforting a visibly shaken Dunith, with an arm around him, showing support during this difficult time.
Legacy and Impact
Suranga Wellalage was remembered fondly by Russell Arnold as a talented cricketer who once captained Prince of Wales College, one of Sri Lanka’s prestigious school teams, during Arnold’s own captaincy at St. Peter’s College. His passing has cast a somber shadow over Dunith’s ongoing participation in the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka still has three remaining matches in the tournament: against Bangladesh on September 20, Pakistan on September 23, and India on September 26.
Dunith Wellalage’s Career Overview
Thursday’s match against Afghanistan marked only Dunith’s fifth T20 International and his debut appearance in this tournament. He currently holds 7 T20I wickets at an average of 20.
In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Dunith has played 31 matches. His best bowling figures came in August 2024 during the third ODI against India in Colombo, where he took 5 wickets for 27 runs. Overall, he has claimed 39 ODI wickets at an average of 29.10.
During the 2023 Asia Cup (ODI format), he notably took five wickets for 40 runs against India. Additionally, he has featured in one Test match, though without taking a wicket.
Performance Against Afghanistan
In the match versus Afghanistan, Dunith bowled four overs conceding 49 runs and taking 1 wicket. The Afghan innings included a dramatic final over where Mohammad Nabi hit five sixes off Dunith’s bowling, helping Afghanistan reach 169/8. This last over yielded a staggering 32 runs, including a no-ball and a single on the final delivery.
Before that expensive final over, Dunith had bowled well, reducing the Afghans to 114/7 by the 17th over and 137/7 after 19 overs. Rashid Khan was dismissed for 24 during this phase of the innings.
Looking Ahead
As Dunith copes with his personal loss, the Sri Lankan team will look to him for contributions in the upcoming matches against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. The cricketing fraternity sends their deepest condolences to Wellalage and his family during this difficult period.
