The Tuskers will have their final showdown in the Asian Sevens in Singapore this weekend.
Despite the 15s team having limited success in the Dialog Serendib cup concluded recently where they went down to Madagascar, their success against Poland and how they fared in the preceding Asian Sevens tournaments is expected to hold them in good stead.
However, the spate of injuries encountered and the lack of practice could be noted as some of the major set-backs to the Tuskers final dice in the to retaining Asia’s no 3 ranking, especially after the good work put in thus far.
Injuries were sustained in the Dialog Serendib cup to Sajith Saranga, Dinusha Chathuranga and Pradeep Liyanage. Dinusha Chathuranga is currently ruled out with an ankle injury and Pradeep Liyanage who injured his knee is reported to be unable to participate in the tournament. Sajith Saranga who adds a great portion of brawn in to the Tuskers equation in the more mobility based format of the game is also suffering from a leg injury and is yet to take a final decision about his availability to take part in the upcoming 7s campaign.
This will beyond any doubt be a blow to the gut of the Lankan 7s squad as Chathuranga, Liyanage and Saranga have played a monumental role in the previous legs of the tournament in securing Sri Lanka’s ranking of third place in Malaysia, Thailand and Mumbai.
Sri Lanka must retain this position in Singapore in order to finish in third place in the overall ranking. Following the commitment to the Triangular tournament that was recently concluded, the Lankan squad would have their work cut out for them as the they seek to utilize the same (more or less) pool of players for the sevens tournament there by making it essential to re-wire their mindset, strategies and style of playing to the shorter and more dynamic format of the game in a short period of time, with a limited number of players to work with.
Due to the Dialog Serendib Cup being brought in to the fixture list, the lack of time for the 7s squad to practice could be a singled out as a hindrance as well.
On a brighter note however Navy sports club speedster Saliya Handapangoda who was a regular member of the sevens team and played the entire sevens series last year where Sri Lanka won three plate titles and a bowl championship was out of action for a while having picked up a shoulder injury but is back in training alongside Havelock sports club sort after impact player Sudharshana Muththuthanthri who could hopefully fill void of big man Saranga.
Debutant Lavanga Perera one of the highest try scorers in the local sevens tournament held earlier this year has been called in for training would provide some conciliation in filling the boots of the injured veterans.
Probable touring squad- Fazil Marija (captain, Kandy), Saliya Kumara (Kandy), Srinath Suriyabandara (Upcountry Lions), Mithun Hapugoda (Havelocks), Sadun Herath (Havelocks), Chula Susantha (Navy), Jason Dissanayake (Navy), Shehan Pathirana (Havelocks), Nigel Ratwatte (Upcountry Lions), Chamara Dabare (Havelock), Sudharshan Muthuthanthri (Havelock) and Lavanga Perera (Kandy).
