ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Matheesha Pathirana likely to be ruled out; Opener Kusal Perera to miss the upcoming clash vs NED

Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana likely to be ruled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 has reached almost the second half of the group stage. Every team has played three or four games, and India and New Zealand are the two teams that are at the top of the table with four wins each. There is only one team in this tournament that has yet to open their account, and that is Sri Lanka.

They have lost all three of their games so far. Sri Lanka have lost to South Africa, Pakistan, and Australia, respectively, and are sitting at the bottom of the table. And now they will face the all-spirited Netherlands in their coming game, which will take place at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on October 21 (Saturday). It will be a do-or-die game for them because they can't afford another defeat from here on.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Matheesha Pathirana likely to miss the remaining games and Kusal Mendis likely to miss the coming game vs NED

It looks like the problems with the Sri Lankan team are not going to reduce, as they are already struggling in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with their performance, and now they have a big injury scare ahead of the remainder of the tournament. The ace pacer, Matheesha Pathirana, who missed the last game against Australia due to a shoulder injury, is likely to be ruled out of the competition.

He will not be available for selection in the coming game on Saturday against Netherlands. As per the report by the Indian Express, the pacer complained about the pain in his right shoulder after the game in Hyderabad against Pakistan. Though there is no update from the medical team about his injury, things aren't looking good. On Thursday, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) added former skipper Angelo Matthews and pacer Dushmantha Chameera to the traveling reserves.

Both players are expected to join the team on Friday. Mathews is likely to feature in the coming game against Netherlands, while Chameera has been declared fit after recovering from a pectoral injury. Meanwhile, opener Kusal Perera is also doubtful for the coming game on Saturday. He was hit on the helmet against Australia by Marcus Stoinis. It will be a big setback, as he scored a brilliant 78 in the last game. Earlier, Sri Lanka lost their skipper, Dasun Shanaka, due to a thigh injury, and Kusal Mendis led the team.