Big question mark over Hasaranga and Chameera’s participation at World Cup

By Chris On Sep 25, 2023

Sri Lanka allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga may be out of the World Cup completely, and may even require surgery, after aggravating his hamstring tear over the past few days.

There is a big question mark over Dushmantha Chameera’s participation as well. The fast bowler is recovering from a pectoral injury and is unable to bowl ten overs without discomfort at the moment.

Meanwhile, spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who strained his hamstring in the Asia Cup match against Pakistan, is expected to be fit in time for Sri Lanka’s opening game at the World Cup, against South Africa on October 7.

The chair of SLC’s medical committee, Arjuna de Silva, told ESPNcricinfo that “medically it seems unlikely that Wanindu will be fit” for much of the World Cup’s duration. “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.”

Prior to his injury, Hasaranga had topped both batting and bowling charts in the LPL. He was seen as key to Sri Lanka’s World Cup hopes, and crucial in terms of the balance of the side, but after the latest setback, he is likely to be out for 4-6 weeks minimum.

The selectors may still pick him in the hope that he will be available towards the end of the round-robin stage. But medical advice is that such a move will be a significant risk.

Chameera has started bowling in the nets, but de Silva said picking him would also be a risk. Chameera had first picked up the injury ahead of the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, but after recovering from that, he re-injured himself in the LPL in August. He had also missed the T20 World Cup in Australia last year with an ankle injury.

Theekshana is currently in rehab. His is also a grade 3 tear, but as it does not involve the T-junction, de Silva is confident he should be fit for the start of the World Cup.

Quicks Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka, who missed the Asia Cup through injury, are now essentially back to full fitness, de Silva said. Kumara had been contending with a recurring side strain, while Madushanka had torn his oblique muscle.

Sri Lanka are yet to name their World Cup squad but are due to depart for India on September 26.

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