ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Wanindu Hasaranga to miss the tournament with hamstring injury

Wanindu Hasaranga missed the Asia Cup 2023 as well due to hamstring injury.

Sri Lankan spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga may be ruled out for the entire ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India due to a hamstring injury. Wanindu Hasaranga has aggravated his grade 3 hamstring tear and could need surgery. World Cup 2023 is all set to begin on October 5. Sri Lanka are yet to announce their squad for the mega event. Wanindu Hasaranga didn’t participate in Asia Cup 2023 as well due to the injury.

Sri Lankan team had struggled with several injury concerns before Asia Cup as well. Along with Wanindu Hasaranga, Pacer Dushmanth Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, and Avishka Fernando missed the entire tournament. Off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana was also ruled out of Asia Cup 2023 finals against India as he sustained a hamstring strain against Pakistan. All these names, apart from Hasaranga, are on the road to recovery.

'Unlikely Wanindu will be fit'

As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, chairman of Sri Lankan Cricket Board’s medical committee, Arjun De Silva, informed, "Medically, it seems unlikely that Wanindu will be fit.” Dunith Wellalage replaced Hasaranga in Asia Cup 2023 and impressed everyone with his all-round skills. Wellalage picked up a 5-wickets haul against India and scored 42 runs with the bat in a small 214-run chase at R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

In another scenario, SLC selectors might pick Hasaranga for the World Cup 2023 in India and miss the initial matches in the league stages. The medical team advised that such a decision would be a huge risk and may worsen his injury. Dushmanth Chameera has started preparing for his comeback, and Maheesh Theekshana is still in rehabilitation and expected to start practicing soon. De Silva also informed us that Dilshan Madhushanka and Lahiru Kumara are now fully fit.

Sri Lanka will be opening their World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. Before that, they will be taking on Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the warm-up games. September 28th is the last date for making final changes to the squad. Sri Lanka are yet to announce their squad and will probably announce it within one or two days. Asia Cup 2023 squad was announced just a day before the tournament began.