Kusal Perera struggling to regain match fitness

Tuesday, 14 September 2021 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s explosive wicket-keeper/batsman Kusal Perera is struggling to regain match fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman next month. He has been named in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup squad of 15 players.

Perera scored 30 off 25 balls and looked in good touch until his dismissal in the second T20I against South Africa at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, but he didn’t take the field during South Africa’s run chase.

Kusal Perera at practice

Perera was expected to keep wickets, but eventually Dinesh Chandimal took over the glove work behind the stumps.

“KJP is struggling a bit with his shoulder and he is getting back to fitness running between the wickets, etc. He was not 100% but we thought it is the right time for him to come back into the team,” said Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower.

“We needed him to bolster the batting and today (Sunday) he looked like one of our best batters. It just shows the class of the guy and hopefully he will come back and his shoulder will improve.”

Apart from recovering from an injured right shoulder Perera has also just recovered from COVID-19, which is why he is having breathing difficulties running between wickets.

Sri Lanka are keen to get him to gain match fitness as early as possible and he is available for selection for today’s third and final T20I. (ST)