In-form opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera has been ruled out of the first two ODIs against Bangladesh due to a hamstring strain sustained during Wednesday’s warm-up match at the CCC grounds.
He struck a well-compiled 78-ball 64 in the practice game and had to retire out due to the injury. The team medical staff has confirmed that it is only a minor strain on his left thigh which has prompted the selectors to keep him in Colombo for rehabilitation and the rest of the squad will travel to Dambulla this evening.
According to reliable sources, Milinda Siriwardena has been named as the replacement for Perera in the squad.
Perera is expected to join the squad for the 3rd one-day match in Colombo on April fool’s Day. He has been in prime form in the recent weeks scoring two centuries in the SLC inter-district tournament and a couple of half-centuries with the Sri Lanka A against England Lions.
