Double change in Sri Lanka World Cup squad

Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera (L) leaves the  field after an injury during the ICC men’s T20 WC 2022  cricket match between Sri Lanka and UAE

• Chameera likely to be out for up to three months, to undergo pre-planned surgery
• Danishka Gunathilaka replaced following hamstring injury

By Shehan Daniel

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera will likely miss up to three months of cricket, with the player expected to now undergo a pre-planned ankle surgery, after being ruled out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 today.

Chameera, who was instrumental in Sri Lanka beating the United Arab Emirates by 79 runs on Tuesday with figures of 3 for 15, was diagnosed with a tear in the calf muscle of his left leg, an injury which the fast bowler has not experienced in the past.

That injury is likely to take him around six weeks to heal from, and has now given SLC an earlier than expected window for Chameera to have a bone spur on ankle operated on.
“It’s really unfortunate to lose Chameera. He will now undergo a previously-planned surgery on a bone spur in his ankle,” Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the Chairman of SLC’s medical panel confirmed.

Sri Lanka suffered a further blow with batsman Danishka Gunathilaka also being ruled out of the tournament, replaced by Ashen Bandara.

While the initial suggestions were that Gunathilaka’s hamstring was not so serious that he would need to be ruled out of the rest of the World Cup, later tests had confirmed a hamstring tear.

Pramod Madushan, who had also reported a hamstring injury, has not been ruled out of the tournament so far, but his availability for today’s crucial game against the Netherlands is still questionable.

“Clinically there doesn’t appear to be anything serious with Madushan, so he will remain in Australia for now,” Prof. de Silva added.

Kasun Rajitha has been named as a replacement player for Chameera, and is to be flown out to Australia.

Sri Lanka also lost left-arm pace bowler Dilshan Madushanka on the eve of their World Cup opener against Namibia, with Binura Fernando taking his place in the squad.