Injured Theekshana out of Asia Cup ultimate, might be match for World Cup
Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana has been dominated out of the ultimate of the boys’s Asia Cup in opposition to India due to a hamstring damage, however he’ll “definitely be ready” for the World Cup beginning subsequent month. Theekshana injured himself in Sri Lanka’s last-ball win against Pakistan.
While captain Dasun Shanaka mentioned Theekshana had a grade three damage, the chair of SLC’s medical committee mentioned the bowler didn’t have an enormous tear and will have even been risked for the ultimate on Sunday had a World Cup not been across the nook. The Sri Lanka selectors have, in the meantime, added Sahan Arachchige into the squad instead of Theekshana, who will return to the excessive efficiency centre to begin rehabilitation work.
“The MRI scan is showing a tear – not a big tear,” Professor Arjuna de Silva, chair of SLC medical committee mentioned. “Clinically Theekshana is okay though. He’s moving around and not feeling too much pain. He’ll definitely be ready for the World Cup. Actually if we didn’t have a World Cup coming up, we would have somehow tried to get him ready for tomorrow’s match. But we don’t want to take that risk. “
Theekshana had damage his proper hamstring whereas sliding close to the boundary in opposition to Pakistan on Thursday and was tended to by the physio. He nonetheless continued to bowl three extra overs, hobbling to his bowling mark and seemingly dragged his proper leg to the bowling crease as he ran in.
He dished out a couple of half-trackers however was unfortunate when an lbw enchantment in opposition to Iftikhar Ahmed was not given. While he was getting his proper hamstring attended to past the rope thereafter, he slammed the turf as the massive display screen returned three reds within the replays with ball-tracker after Sri Lanka determined in opposition to the overview. He returned to bowl two extra overs earlier than being helped off the sector.
Sri Lanka might look to convey legspinner Dushan Hemantha into the XI instead of Theekshana for the ultimate. Hemantha has to this point performed solely two ODIs however can be a good choice with the bat with three first-class centuries and one List 100.
With 31 wickets in ODIs, Theekshana is Sri Lanka’s most profitable bowler in 2023. He is stage with India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Nepal’s Karan KC and solely Sandeep Lamichhane has extra. With Wanindu Hasaranga already out of the Asia Cup with damage, Theekshana was key for Sri Lanka, particularly since he additionally bowls with the brand new ball.
Theekshana is now the newest in an extended line of injured gamers for Sri Lanka, with quick bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka all lacking the Asia Cup along with Hasaranga.
With further inputs from Andrew Fidel Fernando