Sri Lanka's emerging left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup in what turns out to be yet another telling blow for the defending champions. Right-arm pacer Lahiru Kumara is also battling a side strain and might remain unavailable for selection too.
Sri Lanka's list of injured players is on the rise as right-arm pacer Dushmantha Chameera had earlier been ruled out of the competition due to a pectoral injury. Wrist spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also unlikely to feature in the competition as he is recuperating from a grade two strain in the thigh.
Madushanka tore an oblique muscle while playing a practice fixture on Friday and might even be in serious doubt for the ODI World Cup that gets underway on October 5.
The injuries to such star bowlers are likely to put Sri Lanka's Asia Cup campaign into jeopardy as they will have to rely on their second-string star cast featuring Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dunith Wellalage and Pramod Madushan among others. Sri Lanka are the defending champions and will most likely be led by their star allrounder Dasun Shanaka. Shanaka was instrumental in leading the unit to glory in the previous edition of the Asia Cup which was played in the T20 format in the UAE as a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup down under.
The island nation is still to announce its squad for the continental tournament and it is likely that the announcement will come once the sports minister of the country approves the squad. Since most of the games will be played in Sri Lanka, it is going to serve as an advantage for the six-time winners as they would look to make the most out of the home conditions.
Sri Lanka's list of injured players:
Dusmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Wanindu Hasaranga
