Kumara joins Chameera in list of injured
View(s):Few days after seamer Dushmantha Chameera was ruled out of the World Cup Qualifiers without a match being played, fellow seamer Lahiru Kumara has joined the list of injured after he picked up a side strain during Sri Lanka’s nervy 21-run win against the Netherlands on Friday.
After bowling two overs, Kumara walked off the ground and played no further part in the match. He will return within the next couple of days to start rehabilitation. Team sources from Zimbabwe confirmed his exit and said a replacement would be named shortly.
In the absence of Chameera, Kumara led the seam attack admirably in the matches played so far and his absence will open the door for young Matheesha Pathirana to make his debut today against the West Indies.
Meanwhile, Chameera, who was ruled out with a lower-grade pectoral muscle injury, was replaced by left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka.
Having returned to the side after a lengthy break following an ankle surgery, Sri Lanka was banking on the 31-year-old seamer to lead the pack, but an injury he picked up during the home series against Afghanistan in the lead up to the qualifiers has now ruled him out completely.
Prof. Arjuna de Silva, who heads the medical committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), said he needs two weeks of rest.
“He will go through a rehabilitation programme on arrival but should refrain from bowling for at least 10 days,” said Prof. de Silva.
Seven months after his ankle surgery, Chameera played the last two matches of the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan early this month. He returned with figures of 2/18 and 4/63, contributing to Sri Lanka’s 2-1 series win.
However, trouble started during the Afghan series where Chameera reported pectoral pain after the first match played on June 4 in Hambantota. As its severity was low, he played the third and final game on June 7 with pain. Not only did he bowl exceptionally well, but also completed the full 10 overs.
As he has proved he could play with pain, he was included in the World Cup qualifiers, in the hope that the he will recover in time for the tournament. However, despite undergoing extensive rehabilitation and treatment, the pain has not yet settled.
Both Chameera and Kumara have had spate of injuries in their careers and with a heavy load of international cricket around the corner, they need to be wrapped with cotton wool, as both players are vital cog in white-ball cricket.