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Professor Arjuna de Silva
Kusal Perera
Dushmantha Chameera
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Two of Sri Lanka’s experienced and explosive white ball cricketers, batsman Kusal Janith Perera (better known by his initials as KJP) and fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera have been given the green-light to be available for selection for the tour to New Zealand in March.
Chairman of the medical panel of Sri Lanka Cricket Prof. Arjuna de Silva said that both players underwent operations successfully and they are back at training.
“Both are okay and they are almost back to normal,” said Prof de Silva.
“Kusal is going to play one of the matches in the NSL (National Super League). If he is fit and in form, he will go. Chameera will not play in the NSL. He is back at training for almost 2-3 weeks. He will most likely go for the New Zealand tour but only to play T20I. l don’t think he will be able to play ODIs.”
KJP had a recurrent right shoulder injury that needed surgery and Chameera had an old ankle injury where surgery was needed. He was to undergo surgery after the T20 World Cup, but prior to the start of the T20 World Cup Super12s he suffered a calf injury and was ruled out of the tournament, which saw him going ahead with the operation on his ankle.
Perera has been out of competitive cricket for more than a year since December 2021. As much as Sri Lanka will be keen to have him back, especially with his explosive batting at the top of the order, Perera will need to get back to match fitness and form as quickly as possible to get the nod from the selectors for New Zealand.
Three other Sri Lankan cricketers who are on the injury list and recovering are talented left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka, Ashen Bandara, one of the best outfielders in cricket today and leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.
Madushanka dislocated his right shoulder while trying to make a stop in the field during the first ODI against India at Guwahati. Thankfully, it was not his bowling arm. He is currently under treatment.
Bandara and Vandersay collided on the field during the third ODI at Thiruvananthapuram and both were stretchered off the field.
“Their injuries are not serious,” said Prof de Silva.
“Vandersay had concussion and both players had knee ligament injuries and bone bruises. They will be out for about 6-8 weeks.”
“None of these injuries are related to physical fitness. I wouldn’t say the injuries are due to bad conduct. All those guys who were injured were fairly fit.”
Prof. de Silva said that before the national team goes to New Zealand the players will have to undergo the routine fitness test like the two kilometres run, skinfold, 40 metre sprint and a few other tests totalling about five.
The last fitness test was done before the Asia Cup in August and there was no gap between the Asia Cup till now as Sri Lanka were involved in the T20 World Cup, and bilateral series against Afghanistan and India.
“The fitness tests have to be done twice a year, it’s important. We have to create a window to do that. It’s not practical to do it before every tour unless you are injured and coming back, then it differs. Doing tests twice a year is more than enough. The tests are similar to those conducted by other countries,” said Prof. de Silva.
