Already missing their three key bowlers, the Sri Lankan cricket team suffered another major blow on Friday as ace pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of his side’s next two matches in the ICC World Cup 2023 due to a shoulder injury.
Pathirana, 20, sustained a shoulder injury recently and after undergoing scans, the report rang serious balls for Dasun Shanaka as the pacer will now be sidelined for the next two World Cup games, which are against Australia on October 16 in Lucknow and then the Netherlands on October 21 at the same venue.
It is worth mentioning that Sri Lanka are playing without two main bowlers — Dushmanta Chameera, and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga — and are struggling with the ball as they have conceded a total of 773 runs in the last two matches against South Africa and Pakistan.
Although Pathirana’s performances were way below par — conceding 185 runs in 19 overs in the last two innings — and as of now, it seems that Shanaka’s men will not be missing the 20-year-old’s services but it will be important to see how the Islanders fill the gap in the playing XI.
With two out of two losses, Shanaka’s men are under serious scrutiny and their hopes of proceeding to the event’s semi-final could be crushed soon if they don’t bounce back.
However, despite two losses, the Islanders showed great intent and played with a positive mindset and it would not come as a surprise if they beat the already-struggling Australia side and kickstart their comeback in the mega event.
Sri Lanka's probable playing XI vs Australia
Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (C), Dunith Wellalage, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha/Lahiru Kumara
Sri Lanka’s squad for World Cup 2023
Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka
