Sri Lanka injury woes mount before crunch Netherlands clash

MELBOURNE: Sri Lanka have been forced to make two changes to their squad ahead of Thursday’s crunch T20 World Cup clash against Netherlands, with Kasun Rajitha coming in for Dushmantha Chameera after the pace spearhead was sidelined due to a torn calf muscle while Ashen Bandara replaces the injured Danushka Gunathilaka.

The 30-year-old Chameera, who missed Sri Lanka’s recent Asia Cup triumph with a leg problem, picked up three wickets in Tuesday’s big win over the United Arab Emirates in Geelong but hobbled off the field after pulling out of his run-up when bowling his fourth over.

Sri Lanka have already lost left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, who was ruled out of the tournament with a quadriceps muscle tear and replaced in the squad by Binura Fernando.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Gunathilaka, who missed the UAE game, will be replaced by travelling reserve Bandara, who is a batsman.

After training in Geelong on Wednesday, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka had said he expected Gunathilaka would be fine. Madushan, however, was still awaiting the result of a scan, he told reporters.

Shanaka added that multiple players were on stand-by in Sri Lanka to be flown in as injury cover.

The unbeaten Netherlands lead Group ‘A’ on four points, with 2014 champions Sri Lanka third, level on points with second-placed Namibia but behind the Africans on run-rate.

Namibia play the winless UAE in the other qualifier in Geelong on Thursday.

The top two sides advance to the Super 12.