Medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekara has been ruled out with a hamstring injury while batsman Lahiru Thirimanna too will board a flight home soon with an ankle injury
Neither Kulasekara nor Thirimanna played a part in the first Test which Sri Lanka miraculously saved from a seemingly losing position.
“Kulasekara will not play any further part in the series as he has got a hamstring injury,” said Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews, who was named man of the match for his brilliant 91 and unbeaten 157 in the Test. However Sri Lanka will not call up a replacement for Kulasekara with uncapped Vishwa Fernando and Nuwan Pradeep already in the squad.
“The decision to send Thirimanne home was taken yesterday as his injured ankle is not responding to treatment,” said Sri Lanka team manager Michael de Zoysa.
Kusal Perera will replace Thirimanne in the squad. The 23-year-old Perera has played 19 ODIs but is yet to make his Test debut. “We don’t have a back-up if another batsman gets injured so we requested for Kusal,” said de Zoysa.
