ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka call up Angelo Mathews, Dushmantha Chameera as travelling reserves - Reports

Angelo Mathews and Dushmanth Chameera will join Sri Lankan camp soon.

Sri Lanka have had several injury problems before and during their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign in India. Captain Dasun Shanka became the latest entry in Sri Lanka’s long list of injured key players. Shanaka was ruled out of the entire World Cup tournament, and Sri Lankan team management included reserve all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne in the squad. Now, all-rounders Angelo Mathews and Dushmanth Chemeera have been added as traveling reserves.

Sri Lanka national selection panel has taken a precautionary approach and included Angelo Mathews and Dushmanth Chameera in Sri Lankan traveling reserve for the reminder of the World Cup tournament. Earlier, Sri Lanka were planning to include Pramod Madushan, but they preferred Dushmanth Chameera, as the pacer has now fully recovered from his injury. Dushmanth Chameera missed Asia Cup 2023 tournament due to injury.

Angelo Mathews and Dushmanth Chameera to join Sri Lankan camp

According to a few media reports, Matheesha Pathirana is also ruled out for 8–10 days due to an inflammation in his bowling arm. Chemeera’s inclusion has been done to maintain Pathirana’s fitness for the rest of the tournament as well. Angelo Mathews was not part of the plan, but Dasun Shanaka’s injury put him in the front seat once again. Talks of including Mathews back in the World Cup squad were also growing in Sri Lanka.

All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is still unfit, and he will make his comeback only after the World Cup in 2023. Wanindu Hasaranga missed Asia Cup 2023 along with Dushmanth Chameera. Maheesh Theekshana also missed a few initial games in the 2023 World Cup due to a hamstring injury. Kusal Mendis is leading Sri Lankan squad in Dasun Shanaka’s absence. Mendis captained Sri Lanka for the first time against Australia in Lucknow.

Sri Lanka are yet to win a game in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. South Africa defeated Sri Lanka in their opening game, and Pakistan went on to chase down a mammoth 345 runs total in Hyderabad. Sri Lanka did have a great start against Australia in Lucknow, but they collapsed after losing their opening wicket. They lost nine wickets for 52 runs against Australian pace attack. Sri Lanka will be next seen playing against South Africa in Mumbai on October 24.