(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Sri Lanka’s injury bug continues to plague them as they have lost another key player from the team just ahead of their crucial match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to be played on Monday in Pune.
Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 World Cup as he hurt his left thigh during a practice session ahead of the clash against Afghanistan.
Consequently, Dushmantha Chameera was announced as Lahiru’s replacement for the rest of the tournament. The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which consists of Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager – Cricket and ETC Chair), Chris Tetley (ICC Head of Events), Hemang Amin (Acting CEO – BCCI), Gaurav Saxena (General Manager – Operations, BCCI), Russel Arnold and Simon Doull (Independent Representatives) has approved Chameera as a replacement for Kumara in the Sri Lanka squad.
Notably, this is the third replacement for Sri Lanka approved by the Technical Committee of the event. Earlier in the competition, their captain Dasun Shanaka and young pacer Matheesha Pathirana were replaced by Chamika Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews respectively. Shanaka sustained a quadriceps injury, whereas Pathirana hurt his shoulder.
Chameera has prior experience of playing 44 ODIs, in which the 31-year-old pacer has taken 50 wickets with an average of 33.16 and an economy rate of 5.39. He last played an ODI match against Afghanistan in June 2023. Interestingly, Chameera has not played any ODI in India.
Sri Lanka is still in contention for the semis, but the rest of their journey in the World Cup 2023 is going to be tough as they have to face Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand in their upcoming matches. The Kusal Mendis-led side is currently at the fifth place on the points table. If they win against Afghanistan on Monday, they will retain their fifth position with six points. However, if Afghanistan manage to win, they will overtake the Lankan side.