IND vs SL: Maheesh Theekshana To Undergo Scan After Suffering Hamstring Injury Ahead Of Asia Cup 2023 Final Against India

Sri Lanka’s thrilling win over Pakistan in the Super 4 game of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 turned a bit sour due to an injury sustained by their star spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 2 wickets (DLS method) in a thrilling game at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to qualify for the final.

It was a do-or-die match for both teams. The winner was going to qualify for the final while the losing team was to crash out of the continental championship. Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss but failed to start well. They were reeling at 130 for 5 at one stage before a 108-run stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed steadied the ship and guided them to a challenging total.

In the end, Pakistan finished on 252 for 7 in the allotted 42 overs. Rizwan scored an unbeaten 86 while opener Abdullah Shafique scored 52. Iftikhar also played a crucial 47-run knock. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the total on the very last ball of the match.

Kusal Mendis led the charge with the bat by playing a fine knock of 92 runs while Sadeera Samarawickrama played a crucial knock of 48 runs. Sri Lanka were well placed at 222 for 4 in the 38th over before a flurry of wickets saw them getting reduced to 246 for 8. However, Charith Asalanka held firm at one end and scored an unbeaten 49 to guide his team to a win.

Maheesh Theekshana suffers injury:

While Sri Lanka registered a famous win to qualify for the final, the injury sustained by Maheesh Theekshana did take some of the gloss off the victory. The right-arm spinner suffered a hamstring injury and hobbled off the field after bowling the 35th over.

During the 34th over of the Pakistan innings when Rizwan swept a delivery from Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana made a diving attempt from the deep backward squad to stop the boundary. He failed to stop the ball from crossing the boundary and also ended up hurting himself in the process. He returned to the field again to bowl the 37th over but did not come out to bat at his usual position.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) gave an update on the bowler and stated that he would undergo a scan on Friday (September 15th, 2023) after straining his right hamstring.

“Maheesh Theekshana has strained his right hamstring. The player will undergo a scan tomorrow to fully assess his condition. Theekshana sustained the injury while he was fielding during the ongoing game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” SLC posted on X (formerly Twitter).

? Maheesh Theekshana has strained his right hamstring.

The player will undergo a scan tomorrow to fully assess his condition.

Theekshana sustained the injury while he was fielding during the ongoing game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.#AsiaCup2023 #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/6RTSRxhKNQ

— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) September 14, 2023