Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Reports

Matheesha Pathirana sustained shoulder injury after the second league game against Pakistan in Hyderabad.

Sri Lanka suffered another huge blow in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as their key pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana has been reportedly ruled out of the tournament. Matheesha Pathirana was not part of the action in the last two games against the Netherlands and Australia. He played his last World Cup game against Pakistan in Hyderabad and sustained a shoulder injury. Sri Lankan management was keeping a close eye on the pacer but unfortunately, he will be missing the mega event for Sri Lanka. 

Matheesha Pathirana is yet to recover from his shoulder injury and the Sri Lankan Cricket Board will be soon announcing a replacement. Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera were added as travelling reserves and joined the Sri Lankan camp recently when skipper Dasun Shanaka flew back to Sri Lanka after an injury. Shanaka was also injured after Sri Lanka’s second league game against Pakistan in Hyderabad. Kusal Mendis is leading the Sri Lankan squad in Shanaka’s absence. 

Pathirana out due to shoulder injury

Matheesha Pathirana didn’t had a great time in the field while playing in the opening two games. Pathirana conceded 95 against South Africa and 90 against Pakistan. According to media reports, Matheesha Pathirana complained of pain on his right shoulder and missed the next two games for Sri Lanka against Australia and the Netherlands at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. He was taken for scans and also assessed by the physio afterward. 

Earlier, Sri Lanka had a massive list of injuries before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the World Cup and also missed the entire Asia Cup 2023 due to hamstring injury. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana missed the opening two games in the mega event due to hamstring injury. Dushmanth Chameera missed the Asia Cup 2023 but now after recovering from his injury, he is back in the Sri Lankan camp as travelling reserve. 

Sri Lanka had a tough campaign so far in the World Cup and have only two points out of their four league games so far. Sri Lanka didn’t had a convincing win against the Netherlands as well in Lucknow. They struggled to chase down 263 runs in Lucknow. Australia, Pakistan, and South Africa have thrashed the wounded Lankan Llions in the tournament so far. Sri Lanka will be next seen taking on defending champions England at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Thursday 26th October.