T20 World Cup 2022: Just at the start of the T20 World Cup, the Sri Lankan team has been dealt with a big blow as pacer Dilshan Madushanka has been ruled out of the marquee tournament. Madushanka is fighting against a quad injury and the Lankan team opted to rest the fast bowler just before the first match against Namibia had begun. Meanwhile, speedster Binura Fernando has replaced him in the final squad.
"The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 has approved Binura Fernando as a replacement for left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka in the Sri Lanka squad," ICC said in a statement.
Madushanka was ruled out just before the start of the tournament opener between Sri Lanka and Namibia. The left-arm fast bowler has sustained a quad injury. Meanwhile, his replacement Fernando last played in a T20I game against India in February this year.
Notably, the Sri Lankan team lost the opening match against Namibia by 55 runs as the Southern African nation stunned the 2022 Asia Cup champions. Namibia scored a total of 163 in the first innings, courtesy of Jan Frylinck and Smit's brilliant 70-run stand. Namibia kept on striking in the bowling and pushed Sri Lanka on the back foot. The Lankan nation's batting was then wrapped up at 108.
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Meanwhile, Madushanka's replacement Fernando will travel from Sri Lanka and join the rest of the squad in Australia. In the statement, ICC also clarified the replacement process for the World Cup. "The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad," the statement added.
Sri Lanka's squad for T20 World Cup:
Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan.
Standby Players: Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwanidu Fernando.
