(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Sri Lanka, who is dealing with multiple injuries within their camp, has an addition to this list as pacer Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the remaining matches of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 due to a shoulder injury. Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury and was replaced by Chamika Karunaratne.
Pathirana, who had only played two games in the tournament, was sidelined from the matches against Australia and Netherlands as he injured his shoulder. On Tuesday, Sri Lanka Cricket announced that, with the approval of the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, Angelo Mathews, who was one of the reserve players, has officially replaced Pathirana in the squad.
However, it is not a like-for-like replacement, as Mathews, a former captain and veteran all-rounder, is filling the place of a 20-year-old fast-bowler. Notably, alongside Mathews, pacer Dushmantha Chameera was another backup player in the squad, but the Sri Lankan board has chosen a batting all-rounder to fulfill the role of a speedster. The 36-year-old Mathews is all set to play in his fourth consecutive ODI World Cup.
Mathews last played an ODI against Afghanistan in June. He has featured in 221 ODIs, scoring 5865 runs at an average of 41.01. He has 40 half-centuries and three hundreds to his name in ODI cricket. He has also picked up 120 wickets in 158 innings at an average of 33.35 and an economy rate of 4.62.
Sri Lanka, currently placed at No. 8 on the points table with only one win in four matches, have their upcoming clash scheduled against England on 26th October in Bengaluru.