Sri Lankan Cricket Legend DS de Silva Dies at 83

Former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva passed away on Tuesday at age 83.

According to Sri Lanka Cricket, DS de Silva represented Sri Lanka in 12 Tests and 41 One Day Internationals.

Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva was a member of the Sri Lankan team that played its first Test in 1982.

The leg-spinner became the first Sri Lankan bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a Test innings during the 1982 tour of Pakistan and later became the oldest Test player to lead the island nation during New Zealand’s tour of 1983.

Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva was also the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Administration from 2009 to 2011.

The SLC added that the cricketing community will fondly remember and deeply appreciate his invaluable contributions to Sri Lankan cricket, both on and off the field.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has expressed its condolences over the demise of former Sri Lanka leg-spinner and ex-SLC chairman D. S. De Silva.

Roshan Abeysinghe, a cricket commentator, honored the late player by highlighting his numerous achievements to the team both as a player and as the board chairman.

“DS, as he was popularly known, served this nation in many capacities and was instrumental in developing international cricket infrastructure in Sri Lanka. He will always be remembered for his service to the game,” Abeysinghe stated.