Lahiru Kumara ruled out of WC, Chameera comes in as replacement

Dushmantha Chameera

• Sri Lanka’s run with injuries continues

PUNE: Sri Lanka’s run with injuries in the 2023 Cricket World Cup continued with fast bowler Lahiru Kumara becoming the latest casualty.

Kumara who won the Player of the Match for his excellent spell of bowling in the middle overs capturing three wickets in Sri Lanka’s victory over England on Thursday has sustained an injury to his left leg and has been ruled out of rest of the World Cup.

“Lahiru complained of pain on his left thigh during practices on Saturday and he was sent for a scan. The scan showed a small tear. He will be out for at least 2-3 weeks,” said Sri Lanka Team Manager Mahinda Halangoda.

Kumara will return home and he will be replaced by fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera who was one of the three travelling reserves with the team.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 has approved Chameera as a replacement for Kumara in the Sri Lanka squad.

Chameera, who has played 44 ODIs also had a run of injuries before being passed fit to be included as a travelling reserve for the ongoing World Cup. He last played for Sri Lanka in June against Afghanistan at Hambantota.

Chameera will be the third travelling reserve to come into the Sri Lanka squad of 15. All-rounder Chamika Karunaratne who was named as travelling reserve with the original party came into the squad when white ball Captain Dasun Shanaka got injured. Later Angelo Mathews was drafted in ahead of the England match as replacement for Matheesha Pathirana.

Kumara is the second player to return home after getting injured. Last week another fast bowler Pathirana returned home after failing a fitness test on his injured bowling arm.

Despite a hamstring strain Shanaka was retained as a travelling reserve and has recovered from the injury and has begun training. – (ST)