Dhananjaya de Silva Recalled In ODI Team To Replace Injured Kusal Perera

Sri Lanka have recalled Dhananjaya de Silva to replace Kusal Perera after the latter suffered a side strain during the game against Zimbabwe in the ongoing ODI tri-series in Bangladesh. Dhananjaya will join his teammates in Dhaka on Tuesday (January 23). Perera’s participation in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh is still not confirmed.

According to reports, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to decide on whether Perera will continue to stay with the team with the decision on the same likely to be taken on Tuesday morning. The left-handed batsman suffered the series-ending injury during his 49-run knock against the African country.

Dhananjaya, meanwhile, has played 17 ODIs, 7 T20Is and 11 Tests so far. His last ODI appearance came in the Champions Trophy, but he recently impressed one and all with a dodgy 119-run knock to help Sri Lanka secure a draw against India in the Delhi Test.

Sri Lanka will next play Bangladesh on Thursday before the title-decider is being held on Saturday. Four days after the final, Bangladesh will play two Tests against Sri Lanka, starting on January 31, followed by two T20Is.

First win of the tournament:

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka registered their first win of the tournament on Sunday after beating Zimbabwe by five wickets. After losing the first two games against Zimbabwe and the hosts, the Islanders bounced back in style in their third game to keep alive their hopes of making it to the final.

Batting first, Zimbabwe could score only 198 with Thisara Perera and Nuwan Pradeep starring with the ball by taking 4 and three wickets respectively. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the modest total with over five overs remaining. Kusal Perera top-scored for the Islanders.

Injury crisis deepens:

Meanwhile, the injury to Perera has occurred on the back of Angelo Mathews’s unavailability, who was ruled out of the remaining tour owing to a recurring a hamstring injury. Sri Lanka left his teammates midway through the series to get treatment in Colombo. Mathews has missed two full tours and several series besides in the last couple of years or so due to the injuries.

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