Sri Lanka suffers first casualty – Nuwan Pradeep ruled out of T20 WC

Nuwan Pradeep limps off the field during the first T20 warm-up match against Oman on Thursday

Sri Lanka has already suffered their first casualty in the upcoming T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman with fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep being ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.

Pradeep limped off the field during the first warm-up match against Oman, played on Thursday at Al Amerat, and according to Sri Lanka Cricket, he had suffered a hamstring injury and will be out for about two to three weeks.

Pradeep bowled 2 overs and took the first two Oman wickets, conceding 7 runs before walking off the field.

Sri Lanka are due to play their second warm-up match against Oman at the same venue today, and after the match, they are expected to finalise their 15 players for the T20 World Cup before the ICC deadline of 10 October.

Pradeep, with his injury, is certainly not going to be included amongst the 15, and most probably will be asked to return home.

The fast bowler has a history of being fit before the tour and breaking down soon after with an injury, and this has raised some concern whether the foreign physios that SLC hire at exorbitant salaries are actually performing their roles properly. (ST)