Sri Lanka could miss their most lethal weapon in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was in a rich vein of form in the Lankan Premier League (LPL) and Sri Lanka were hoping he would be able to carry forward his form in Asia Cup. However, it has now emerged that the 26-year-old is suffering from a hamstring injury and could miss the entire Asia Cup.
According to the Daily Mirror Online of Sri Lanka, the decision on Hasaranga is pending. His name has been sent to the Sports Ministry for approval. A call on the all-rounder’s availability will be taken once he clears a fitness test.
Wanindu Hasaranga had an unforgettable LPL 2023. His all-round performance in the entire tournament helped his team B-Love Kandy lift the LPL trophy, making them the first team from outside Jaffna to win the Lanka Premier League. Kandy captain Wanindu Hasaranga missed the match, but they overhauled Dambulla Aura’s 147-4 with ease.
The versatile all-rounder topped the bowling and batting charts, a rare feat in the history of T20 franchise leagues. Hasaranga scored 279 runs and took 19 wickets in the tournament.
In Qualifier 2 – his last appearance in the league – he smashed 48 in 30 balls and picked up 2-21 against the Galle Titans. The wickets took his league tally to 19, the most taken by a bowler in a single edition of the LPL.
Hasaranga’s 6-9 against the Jaffna Kings in the Eliminator was the league’s only five-wicket haul as well as the best figures in LPL history. His 4-17 against Galle also made him the only bowler to finish with two four-wicket hauls.
Hasaranga’s only fifties – 64 in 27 balls against Galle (strike rate 237), 52 not out in 22 balls against Jaffna (236) – were the fastest scores in excess of 25, and the only fifties scored at over twice a run a ball.
His 14 sixes were the joint-most, a feat he shared with Dambulla’s Avishka Fernando, who faced 48 more balls than Hasaranga.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka would be hoping Hasaranga is available for selection at least in the latter part of the tournament but with the World Cup 2023 looming on horizon, it remains to be seen if Sri Lanka risks their star-player in Asia Cup.
Dushmantha Chameera out of Asia Cup
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera is set to miss Asia Cup with a shoulder injury.
“He sustained a shoulder injury and has been advised to rest. This shoulder injury (ligament tear) he suffered in one of the matches in the recently concluded Lanka Premier League (LPL),” Daily Mirror Online quoted a source as saying.
“Before the LPL, he had recovered from his ankle injury. We want him to be fit for the World Cup and therefore has been dropped from the Asia Cup squad. If he is able to move his hands freely, will be considered for the World Cup”, the source added.
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