ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka announces squad, Hasaranga and Chameera ruled out

Sri Lanka has unveiled its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, set to commence on October 5 in India. However, the team will miss the services of key players Wanindu Hasaranga and Dusmanth Chameera due to injury.

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The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has unveiled its 15-member squad for the impending ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, slated to begin on October 5 in India. This announcement comes just two days before the ICC’s official squad submission deadline.

Unfortunately, Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign has been dealt a significant blow, as they will be without the talents of their star spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, and fast bowler Dusmanth Chameera throughout the tournament.

Nonetheless, the Sri Lankan World Cup squad closely resembles their lineup from the Asia Cup, with Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara making their return to the squad. This return led to the omission of Binura Fernando and Pramod Madushan from the final selection.

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The official statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) explained the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga: “Wanindu Hasaranga has not been included in the 15-member squad as the player is still in the process of recovering from an injury. His recovery will be monitored, and if he is declared fit to play, he will be considered as a replacement in the event of an injury to a squad member during the tournament.”

Dusmanth Chameera’s absence may be keenly felt, as the experienced fast bowler has faced a series of injuries in recent times. His last appearance for Sri Lanka was in June against Afghanistan and in the warm-up matches for the World Cup qualifier. He initially missed the World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe due to a pectoral muscle injury. Subsequently, he suffered another injury in August while participating in the Lanka Premier League. Additionally, Chameera was sidelined during last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia due to an ankle injury.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s unfortunate injury, a grade-three hamstring tear, has ruled him out of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This leg-spinner sustained a thigh strain during the Lankan Premier League playoffs in August, where he emerged as the top run-scorer with 279 runs and the leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets. This injury had previously forced him to withdraw from the Asia Cup.

Sri Lanka World Cup Squad:

Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

Chamika Karunaratne has been designated as the traveling reserve player.

Sri Lanka is slated to participate in two warm-up matches preceding the World Cup: one against Bangladesh on September 29 and another against Afghanistan on October 2. The team’s tournament opener is scheduled for October 7 against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.