Danushka Gunathilaka out of Asia Cup with injury

• Shehan Jayasuriya to serve as replacement

Opening batsmen Danushka Gunathilaka has been ruled out of the Asia Cup with a lower back injury, SLC has confirmed. 

He will return to the island, having travelled with the team to the UAE, with Shehan Jayasuriya, who was on standby, to fly out and join the squad tomorrow as his replacement.

The injury deals an unfortunate blow to Gunathilaka, who had recorded two half-centuries in Sri Lanka’s recent second Test at home against South Africa.

However, this latest development will offer a fresh opportunity for Jayasuriya to prove himself in international competition after failing to impress against South Africa in August. 

Sri Lanka will play their first Asia Cup Group B match against Bangladesh in Dubai on 15 September.