Follow UsSri Lanka have been plagued by injuries over the last two years, with Dushmantha Chameera often being ruled out of tournaments with injuries. But this time, the list has grown sizeably, with Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara too set to be unavailable for the entire tournament or at least a major part of it.
The left-arm pacer Madhushanka tore an oblique muscle during a practice game on August 25 (Friday) and is set to be ruled out of the Asia Cup. Not just that, speedster Kumara is highly doubtful for the tournament after suffering a side strain - an injury that has been plaguing him for a while now.
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Leg-spinning all-rounder Hasaranga’s availability, too, is a concern, with a grade two strain in the thigh ruling him out of a major chunk of the tournament. Chameera’s pectoral injury puts him in major doubt even for the showpiece event in India later in the year.
Without their first-choice pace attack, Sri Lanka are likely to turn their attention towards Kasun Rajitha, Pramod Madushan, and Matheesha Pathirana to spearhead the bowling unit. Pathirana, in particular, has looked lukewarm in Sri Lankan colours but given his experience at the Indian Premier League (IPL) level, Sri Lanka will bank him to come good during the tournament.
ESPNCricinfo reported that if Hasaranga is ruled out of the tournament, Dunith Wellalage or Dushan Hemantha could be in line as a replacement. As things stand, defending champions Sri Lanka kick-off their Asia Cup campaign on Thursday (August 31) against Bangladesh and would be hoping things fall in place before the start of the tournament.