COLOMBO – Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal has met with a blow after hewas suspended for two international matches.

He on Sunday was handed a two-match suspension after being found guilty ofa “serious over-rate offence” during the match against Bangladesh inColombo on Saturday night.

The ban means that Chandimal will be unavailable for crucial matches of thetri-series T20I tournament against India (March 12) and Bangladesh (March16).

In Saturday match, match referee Chris Board deemed that Sri Lanka wereruled to be four overs short of their target when time allowances weretaken into consideration.

“In accordance with Article 2.5.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Playersand Players Support Personnel, which relates to serious over-rate offences,players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for the first two oversand 20 per cent per additional over their side failed to bowl in theallotted time, while the captain receives two suspension points,” said anICC media release.

“As two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or twoT20Is, whatever comes first for the player, Chandimal has been suspendedfrom his side’s 12 and 16 March fixtures against India and Bangladeshrespectively, while each of his players have received a fine of 60 percent,” the release added.