Kumara ruled out of 2023 World Cup; Chameera comes in as replacement

Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the 2023 World Cup due to a left thigh muscle injury sustained during training in Pune. Dushmantha Chameera has been brought in as his replacement, the International Cricket Council announced on Sunday (October 29).

Kumara had a superb outing in Sri Lanka’s last win against England in Bangalore. The tearaway quick picked up 3 for 35 in his seven overs and helped Sri Lanka dismiss England for just 156. Sri Lanka ended up chasing down the target in 25.4 overs.

Chameera (torn pectoral muscle), who had earlier missed out on a selection, hasn’t played for Sri Lanka for almost five months. The paceman will become the third Sri Lankan player to get into the main squad from the reserves after Chamika Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews.

Dasun Shanaka (quad) and Matheesha Pathirana (shoulder) are already out of the competition.

Sri Lanka have two wins in five games so far and are next scheduled to take on Afghanistan on Monday (October 30).

Sri Lanka's updated squad: Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Angelo Mathews, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne.