In a significant squad reshuffle for the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka have brought in Dilshan Madushanka to replace experienced fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.
Chameera, a crucial part of the Sri Lankan bowling lineup, has failed to recover from a right shoulder injury sustained during training before the start of the tournament. Due to the gravity of the injury, he has been advised to return home for rehabilitation.
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“Dushmantha Chameera is still recovering from a right pectoral muscle injury he sustained on the right shoulder while practicing ahead of Sri Lanka’s first game of the group stage of the qualifiers. Accordingly, the bowler will not be available for selections for the Super Six Round games as well,” the official Sri Lanka handle tweeted.
Chameera’s removal from the squad is a considerable setback for the Sri Lankan team as he has taken 50 ODI wickets and played a pivotal role in the team’s white-ball strategy in recent years. He was part of the original squad but did not feature in either of the warm-up matches or Sri Lanka’s first four matches, with the hope he would recover in time for the critical latter stages of the tournament.
In contrast, Madushanka, Chameera’s replacement, is a relative newcomer to international cricket, having only played two ODIs to date. However, his left-arm bowling adds a new dimension to the Sri Lankan squad.
Despite these changes, Sri Lanka has performed impressively in the tournament, solidifying their position as the top-ranked side in the Qualifier with four consecutive wins in the group stage. This performance puts them in a strong position to secure one of the two qualification spots available in Zimbabwe and advance to the Cricket World Cup later this year.