The opening encounter of the 2022 edition of the Asia Cup will be featuring Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Both the teams will strive harder to outshine the opponent and take the lead in the tournament.
But Sri Lankan ace pacer Dushmantha Chameera had to suffer a leg injury and has been ruled out of the tournament. The Fast bowler was reported to be practising in the nets and eventually got injured. This caused the fast bowler the whole tournament.
Series of injuries for Sri Lanka:
Chameera sustained an injury on his left leg during the team practice. He has been replaced by Nuwan Thushara in the 18-man squad. Sri Lanka had announced their squad on Saturday, 20 August, minus Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha, who are also nursing injuries.
This loss in terms of Chameera will surely disappoint Sri Lankan fans. Sri Lanka had a talented bowling line-up but lacks the experience for the big tournament.
The Sri Lankan fast bowling line-up includes almost uncapped players in T20Is – Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Asitha Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana; the replacement Thusara only having played a handful of T20Is. Chameera, who was expected to lead the bowling attack got himself injured and this will haunt the cricket fans in Sri Lanka.
28-year-old Thusara, who debuted in February this year, has featured in four T20Is and picked up two wickets.
Sri Lanka are part of Group B in the Asia Cup and their campaign will begin on 27 August, against Afghanistan in Dubai. Their second match will be against Bangladesh on 1 September.
Sri Lanka Squad For Asia Cup 2022 (Revised): Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Dinesh Chandimal