Dushmantha Chameera and Angelo Mathews are set to join the Sri Lanka team as Travelling Reserves for the remainder of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, ThePapare learns.
Reporting from Lucknow, India
With fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana nursing a shoulder injury, the Team Management in India have called up experienced duo of Dushmantha Chameera and Angelo Mathews immediately as Travelling Reserves. Pathirana did not take part in the Australia game and is in danger of being ruled out of the entire competition.
Chameera, who was not picked in the initial 15-member squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 due to a pectoral injury has now been declared fully fit. Chameera first picked up the injury when he played in June against Afghanistan in ODIs, but after recovering from that, he re-injured himself whilst playing in the LPL in August.
Senior statesman Angelo Mathews has been called up as extra batting cover in case of another injury. Former Sri Lanka captain, 36-year-old Mathews, who averages over 40 in ODIs, was dropped from the Sri Lanka ODI team after he scored only 12 runs against Afghanistan at home during the 1st ODI in the 3-match series in June.
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Last week, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the tournament due to a thigh injury and was replaced by all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne. Shanaka injured himself during the Pakistan game in Hyderabad and will need at least 3 weeks to recover.
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Kusal Perera, who scored 78 runs off 82 balls against Australia on Monday is reportedly still not 100% fit after he was hit on the helmet by Marcus Stoinis when he was on 43. If Perera is not fit due to the concussion, Dimuth Karunaratne may slot back into the opening position.
Even though Chameera and Mathews will join the team as Travelling Reserves, they will not be able to take part in the tournament until there is another injury within the current 15 members of the team. In the case of another injury, the Sri Lanka team management will request an injury replacement from the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
According to reliable sources, the two players are set to fly to India tonight (19th October) and will start their training tomorrow (20th October) afternoon in Lucknow.
Currently, Sri Lanka is languishing at the bottom of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 points table with 3 losses in 3 games. They will play the Netherlands on the 21st of October (Saturday) at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
