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Friday, 17 September 2021 01:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| Kusal Perera |
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| Lahiru Madushanka
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Sri Lanka, who are already struggling with their batting ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup, will be dealt a cruel blow with opening batsman and wicket-keeper Kusal Perera looking unlikely to travel for the mega event to the UAE and Oman after sustaining a hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s third T20I against South Africa at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.
Another player who will also find himself out of the 15-man squad named for the World Cup will be all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka, who has a fractured collarbone while fielding in the same match.
Perera, who had recovered from a shoulder injury and COVID-19, returned to the Sri Lanka side for the second T20I and top scored with 30, but did not take the field when South Africa began their run chase as he was having breathing difficulties. In the third T20I, he once again top scored for his side with 39, but it was clearly evident that he was struggling with his hamstring while running between the wickets.
Perera had looked a class apart from the rest of the batsmen who gave an abysmal display against the South Africans to lose the three-match series 3-0.
Madushanka injured his left shoulder trying to make a diving stop in the outfield.
Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mohan de Silva said that both players will probably be out of the 15-member squad due to their injuries.
“We have asked the selectors to replace them in the squad,” said de Silva.
Sri Lanka selected a squad of 15 players plus four reserves for the T20 World Cup, but de Silva said that they have asked the selectors to pick an additional two or three players making the total strength of the squad to 21.
“The ICC required these numbers (15+4) only for logistic purposes; we didn’t include another wicket-keeper/batsman because of that. We have told the selectors to include another three or four additional players, probably two middle-order batsmen or fast bowlers. Sri Lanka Cricket will bear the cost for the extra players,” said de Silva.
“The ICC books hotel rooms for about 30 with the support staff. We’ll work accordingly and decide at that time to nominate the players who are going to be in the bubble,” he said. – (ST)
