Sri Lanka may have to make several changes to their team during their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 encounters in Lucknow due to injuries, ThePapare learns.
Reporting from Lucknow
Following two defeats at the hands of South Africa and Pakistan, the Sri Lanka team is currently in Lucknow ahead of their two games against Australia (16th October) and Netherlands (21st October) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
>>Theekshana deemed fit; Sri Lanka’s combination yet to be confirmed
Both, opening batter Kusal Perera and fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana are reportedly nursing shoulder injuries and will likely sit out in Sri Lanka’s next fixture against former champions, Australia on Monday.
The Sri Lanka team will not train on Thursday and Friday after they flew to Lucknow from Hyderabad on Wednesday. The Lions will hold two training sessions on the 14th and 15th of October ahead of their clash against Australia on Monday, 16th of October.
Kusal Perera, who returned to the national setup following shoulder surgery, has aggravated his shoulder injury and will need a few more days to recover as per a reliable source. If Kusal Perera is deemed unfit, Dimuth Karunaratne will come into the side to open the batting with Pathum Nissanka.
Perera made 7 and 0 against South Africa and Pakistan respectively in the two games so far. Before that, he had to walk out of Sri Lanka’s warm-up game against Bangladesh due to the same shoulder injury in Guwahati.
20-year-old Pathirana, who had two forgettable outings against the Proteas and Pakistan, lacked complete control and discipline and is nursing a shoulder niggle. He will be out of action for at least 10 days. Seamer Lahiru Kumara is the most likely candidate to come in place of Pathirana.
In other injury concerns, Sri Lanka were given positive news when Kusal Mendis was declared fit for the Australia game after he missed his wicket-keeping duties in Hyderabad against Pakistan.
>>Photos – Sri Lanka practice session ahead of Pakistan match – ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
