Sri Lanka will be without the services of Kusal Perera for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against India due to a shoulder injury, SLC announced on Friday.
Read More : 5 wicket-keeping options for Sri Lanka vs India
Perera was removed from captaincy duties following the defeats in Bangladesh and England but was expected to contribute with the bat and behind the stumps. He was replaced by Dasun Shanaka as the captain.
Perera was the most experienced player in the Sri Lankan squad with 107 ODIs and 50 T20Is to his name. With Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka still suspended for breaching the team bio-bubble rules in England, Sri Lanka’s batting strength is further weakened with Perera’s injury.
Read : #PlaySelector – Who should replace injured wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Perera?
With no wicketkeepers in the squad, SLC have called up Minod Bhanuka and Sadeera Samarawickrama from Dambulla to join the main squad, ThePapare learns. Both of them were training with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ & Emerging Team in a bio-secure environment since the last week of June.
Left-arm seamer Binura Fernando will not be available for selection for the ODI series after he sprained his left ankle during a practice session on Thursday. He was used with the new ball in England during both the ODI and T20I series.
Left-handed top order batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been cleared to resume training with the main squad in Colombo having spent at least a week in isolation after he was identified as a close contact of Sandun Weerakkody, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Read Also : COVID scare in alternate Sri Lanka squad as Weerakkody tests positive for COVID-19
With only two days left for the start of the ODI series, Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to announce the final squad.
The first ODI is scheduled to commence on the 18th of July at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The second and third matches will be played on the 20th and 23rd at the same venue. The three T20Is will be played on the 25th, 27th and 29th of July.
>>Click Here For More Cricket News<<
