Fast bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne has become the latest addition to the injury-hit list of Sri Lanka as he has reportedly picked up a hamstring injury mid tour in South Africa.
The 22-year-old was added to the Sri Lanka Test squad when two other young pacies, Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera who traveled to Australia, were injured during the 1st Test.
Fast-bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne added to Test squad
Karunaratne earned his national cap in the 2nd Test match of the tour at Manuka Oval, Canberra. He had a dream start to his international career as a right arm fast bowler and tasted early success in his very first over when he picked up Marnus Labuschagne for 6 runs.
It ended as a modest outing for the debutant at Manuka Oval, as Karunaratne was hammered all over the park to end up with the figures of 1-130 with an economy of 5.91. He couldn’t do much with bat either, just like his team mates, at the hands of the Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins led rampaging Aussie attack.
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As the replacement for Karunaratne, another young pacer, 21-year-old Asitha Fernando has been added to the Test squad. Fernando has previously played a solitary ODI vs Zimbabwe in 2017.
There will be an outside chance of Fernando being included in the XI for the 2nd Test, if the selection committee opt to rest veteran Suranga Lakmal due to his workload management issues, as suggested prior to the series. However, it is unlikely that they would leave out the experienced fast bowler as Sri Lanka have a chance of clinching a series win in South Africa, something no other Asian team has been able to do. Even if Lakmal is rested, Fernando will have to battle it out with another new addition to the squad, Mohomed Shiraz for the spot in the playing XI.
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Fernando performances in the recently concluded Ireland A tour of Sri Lanka and ACC Emerging teams cup has paved the way for his call-up.
The second Test of the South Africa tour will commence on 21st of February.
