Pace ace Chameera could miss Asia Cup with injury
Sri Lanka could go without Dushmantha Chameera for the Asia Cup following an injury to the peroneal muscle in his left leg during a training session on Friday. Chameera was in the 20-man squad named for the six-nation tournament to be played in Dubai starting August 27, but with two weeks of rest recommended to the seamer, selectors are forced to look for an alternative.
Nuwan Thushara is the likely replacement to Sri Lanka’s squad as cover and selection committee sources said it will be announced on Monday—two days prior to team’s travel to the UAE. Chameera, 30, has skipped red-ball cricket since March this year following medical advice to suspend the longer format until an operation is performed to sort out a longtime ankle niggle. However, he was cleared to play the two shorter formats, where the workload is manageable. Chameera is expected to go under the knife after the World T20 tournament in October.
In addition to Chameera, Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha will also miss the Asia Cup due to injuries. Both were in the squad announced by the Minister of Sports, Roshan Ranasingha on Friday, but have been replaced by Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan.
Selectors said that Fernando sustained a hamstring injury during the four-team SLC Invitational Tournament while Rajitha had injured his shoulder. Sri Lanka have announced a 20-man squad, three more than allowed. The trio of Pramod Madushan, Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwanidu Fernando will travel with them.
With Chameera, Binura Fernando and Rajitha out, the seam attack will be led by the right-arm seamers Asitha Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne. Uncapped Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana have been included but are unlikely to make their debut.
Teenage spinner Dunith Wellalage failed to make the cut, despite impressing during the Australian and Pakistan series as selectors have picked a four-man spin attack comprising Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffery Vandersay and Praveen Jayawickrema.
The selectors have brought in Ashen Bandara but left out wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella. Bandara, who last played for Sri Lanka in July 2021 during India’s tour of Sri Lanka, has been in cracking form in recent domestic games. Batting at No.5, he hit 134 runs across four innings. A useful leg-spinner, he is one of the best fielders in the side. Dickwella’s exclusion is expected with Bhanuka Rajapaksa being groomed to be the reserve wicket-keeper in case of an injury to Kusal Mendis, who is the first choice.
Dinesh Chandimal, though will struggle to earn a place in the 17-man squad has been picked as the third wicket-keeper in the side. Opener Dhanushka Gunathilaka has just one half-century in his last 15 games, but the selectors have kept faith in the senior batter.
Sri Lanka is in Group ‘B’ alongside Bangladesh and Afghanistan. During the last tournament in 2018, Sri Lanka lost both their games to the same opponents and crashed out from the first round itself. The Asia Cup will begin on Saturday (27) with Sri Lanka playing Afghanistan in the tournament opener at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
| Sri Lanka Squad:Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Dhanushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffery Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dushmantha Chameera/Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwanidu Fernando | |