Injured Hasaranga, Chameera, Kumara out of Asia Cup
Just five days out from their first fixture of the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka has three of their key bowlers–Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga and Lahiru Kumara–ruled out with injuries. The defending Asia Cup champions (although the format was different) will meet Bangladesh on August 31 at Pallekele before heading to Lahore to play Afghanistan in their last first-round fixture.Batter Kusal Janith Perera, with Covid-19, also remains doubtful for the opener but will be in the side, having returned home from hospital on Saturday.
Chameera aggravated his right pectoral muscle injury during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) tournament and investigations have confirmed a more significant injury. The team management is currently working on getting him ready for the World Cup in October without the risk of further injury.
He returned to the side after a lengthy break following an ankle surgery during the home series against Afghanistan. However, trouble started during the series where Chameera reported pectoral pain after the first match played on June 4 in Hambantota. As its severity was low, he played the third and final game on June 7 with pain. Not only did he bowl exceptionally well, but also completed the full 10 overs.
As he has proved he could play with pain, Chameera was included in the World Cup qualifiers in the hope that he will recover in time for the tournament. However, despite undergoing extensive rehabilitation and treatment, he could not participate. After the rehabilitation process, he was released to play the LPL where he aggravated the injury again.
Chameera was wrapped in cotton wool in recent years. He has not played a single Test since November 2021, had done only eight ODIs since January 2022 and has not played a single T20 international since the World Cup last year in Australia. As a result Kasun Rajitha has been brought into the squad.
Hasaranga’s loss is a massive blow for the Sri Lankans. He is nursing a Grade II hamstring injury that requires a minimum three to four weeks of rest. Hasaranga damaged his hamstring during B-Love Kandy’s last play-off game against Galle Titans.
Nevertheless, he batted and bowled to lead his side to victory. Although he was willing to play the final despite the injury, he was forced out of the game by Sri Lanka Cricket, given his importance to the national side. He has been replaced by leggie Dushan Hemantha.
Kumara has picked up a side strain during the LPL and the team management hopes the speedster will improve his fitness, conditioning and robustness during the next four to five weeks leading up to the World Cup. His withdrawal from the Asia Cup is largely owing to his current fitness levels that put him in greater risk of injury and of being unable to complete the full quota in a 50-over game. Pramod Madushan has replaced him in the side.
| Sri Lanka Squad | |
| Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
|