Sri Lanka, Bangladesh suffer World Cup injuries

Wednesday, 25 February 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MELBOURNE (AFP): Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were dealt injury blows ahead of Thursday s World Cup clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with both Jeevan Mendis and Mushfiqur Rahim taken to hospital for assessment. Mendis, a left-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner, has a hamstring injury that could be serious enough to rule him out of the rest of the tournament, a Sri Lanka team source told AFP on Tuesday.

Mendis, 32, who has played in 16 one-day internationals, conceded 13 runs in three wicketless overs and remained unbeaten on nine during Sri Lanka s tense four-wicket win over Afghanistan in Dunedin on Sunday. Rahim, the former Bangladesh captain and wicket-keeper, was hit on the right thumb by a ball from team-mate Taskin Ahmed during Tuesday s net session at the MCG and was taken for precautionary x-rays. “Rahim felt pain in the thumb so we wanted to get it checked-up,” team manager Khaled Mahmud said. If the experienced Rahim, who has scored 3,224 runs in 141 ODIS, is unable to take the field on Thursday, batsman Anamul Haque will take over wicketkeeping duties. Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand before defeating Afghanistan in their second Pool A game. Bangladesh beat Afghanistan but their match against Australia in Brisbane last weekend was washed out without a ball bowled.

Upul Tharanga to replace Jeevan Mendis

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board said that Upul Tharanga is to replace injured Jeevan Mendis in the Sri Lanka world cup team.

Mendis had sustained the injury at practices and is presently awaiting the ICC’s doctors to visit and asses his condition. His medical reports will be forwarded to the ICC Technical Committee for a replacement. However due to the time constraints the selection committee, coach and captain have requested that Upul Tharanga be sent to Melbourne immediately in case he is needed. (Colombo Gazette)