Sri-Lankan All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga and Right-arm Pacer Dushmantha Chameera are in serious doubts to feature during the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Hasaranga was sidelined for Sri-Lanka from Asia Cup 2023 due to a Hamstring injury while Chameera is recovering from a Pectoral injury.
Both of them are key players for Sri-Lanka and their absence could be a headache for the management. It is not just Wanindu Hasaranga or Chameera who will have to be looked after as leg-spinner Maheesh Theekshana is also facing time off the field after he sustained a Hamstring injury that ruled him out of Asia Cup 2023 finale.
So, the Sri-Lankan management has 3 injured players to look after and the recent developments suggests that their medical staff has an imperative job to do. Sri-Lanka Cricket’s Medical head Arjuna Da Silva provided much needed clarity about Wanindu Hasaranga’s situation.
The 26-year-old was Lanka Premier League’s highest scorer as well as wicket taker and is still considered a key figure of the team. His all-round performance has served Sri-Lankan cricket pretty well but Arjuna Da Silva’s comments about him does not look favorable.
Hasaranga sustained a grade 2 Hamstring tear during LPL 2023 but it has alleviated to a grade 3 tear during the rehab process. He is set to remain out of action for at least 5-6 weeks with Sri-Lanka playing their opening World Cup game on 7th October against South Africa.
Hasaranga could be picked in the Sri-Lankan squad with just bare hopes of him recovering in time. “He picked up a grade 2 tear in the LPL, but he re-aggravated it during rehab. It’s now a grade 3 tear. What also complicates the matter is that it is also a T-junction hamstring injury.” – Da Silva said.
Dushmantha Chameera on the other hand has been injured from the time Sri-Lanka played their CWC 2023 qualifiers. And after his recovery process, Chameera injured himself once again during LPL and he is also likely to miss the WC next month.
Lastly, Maheesh Theekshana who has suffered the same injury as Hasaranga, has started his recovery process and has gone for rehabiliation. Theekshana is expected to return just in time for them. Sri-Lanka will take their flight to India on 26th September with their squad unannounced and they just have 2 days to do so.
