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Angelo Mathews‘ ongoing hamstring troubles have ruled him out of the Nidahas Trophy tri-nation series, which begins next week. Though nominally Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain, he has led in only one ODI since his reinstatement in early January. Sri Lanka were led by Dinesh Chandimal in the six remaining limited-overs games on the tour of Bangladesh, and it is Chandimal again who is expected to take the reins for the T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving India and Bangladesh.
There may be more bad news for Sri Lanka in the approach to the tournament. Fast bowler Shehan Madushanka, who had made an impressive start to his international career in Bangladesh, is himself recovering from a hamstring strain, and has not yet returned to competitive cricket. Allrounder Asela Gunaratne, meanwhile, has already been ruled out due to a rotator cuff strain. However, batsman Kusal Perera – who had also sustained an injury towards the end of the Bangladesh tour – has played two matches for Colts Cricket Club in the ongoing domestic T20 league, and may be fit enough to be available for the Nidahas Trophy.
Mathews’ recent history of injury-layoffs does not make for encouraging reading.
More to follow
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo