Matheesha Pathirana’s ongoing shoulder injury has led to the selectors ending his participation in the ongoing tournament. Angelo Mathews, the traveling reserve, has been chosen as his replacement, a decision that has received the green light from the Event Technical Committee.
Pathirana’s Performance Hindered by Injury
Pathirana, who participated in Sri Lanka’s initial losses to South Africa and Pakistan, was unable to deliver his best performance due to his injury, giving away 185 runs in the two games. The 20-year-old fast bowler’s stint in the tournament has unfortunately been cut short.
Mathews Brings Experience to the Table
Mathews, the chosen replacement, brings a wealth of experience to the team, having represented Sri Lanka in 221 ODIs throughout his extensive career. If he gets a chance to play in the first XI in India, it would mark his presence in the last four ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, following his appearances in 2011, 2015, and 2019.
Mathews vs Pathirana: A Contrast in Styles
However, the 35-year-old Mathews offers a distinctly different skill set compared to strike-bowler Pathirana. The latter’s continued absence due to injury is a significant blow to a squad already grappling with multiple injuries.
Sri Lanka’s Injury Crisis Deepens
Key bowler Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of Sri Lanka’s entire campaign due to an injury before the World Cup, while seamer Dushmantha Chameera was only named as a reserve due to his own injury struggles. The injury woes escalated when captain Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the tournament with a torn quadricep, leading to Chamika Krunaratne stepping in as his replacement.
Hope for Second-string Players
With a revamped team, Sri Lanka is hoping for some standout performances from their backup players in their upcoming match against England in Bengaluru on Thursday.