Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka’s cricket team, has been ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup due to a quad injury he sustained during the match against Pakistan. Medical scans have confirmed that the dynamic all-rounder will be out of action for at least three weeks.
Chamika Karunaratne Steps in as Replacement
In response to Shanaka’s injury, Sri Lanka has chosen to bring in fellow all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne to fill the void in their squad. The Event Technical Committee gave its approval for this change on Saturday.
Already in India as a reserve player, Karunaratne has been accompanying the team throughout the tournament. He is now a potential contender for Sri Lanka’s upcoming match against Australia in Lucknow on Monday.
Karunaratne’s Return to the Field
The 27-year-old hasn’t represented Sri Lanka since his T20I appearance against New Zealand in early April. However, he boasts over 60 caps for his country across all three formats of the game.
Kusal Mendis to Assume Captaincy
With Shanaka’s absence, the vice-captain of Sri Lanka’s squad, Kusal Mendis, is anticipated to assume the captaincy. Mendis, who is currently in great form, is expected to lead the team in the upcoming matches.