Sri Lanka Cricket Delivers Fitness Update On Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera And Maheesh Theekshana As Trio Miss World Cup Warm-up Game

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on Tuesday (October 3), delivered fitness updates on captain Dasun Shanaka, opener Kusal Perera and spinner Maheesh Theekshana. All three players are not a part of the Sri Lankan team for the ongoing warm-up game against Afghanistan in Guwahati.

Both Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka picked up injuries during the first warm-up game against Bangladesh last week. On the other hand, Maheesh Theekshana is still in his country, recovering from the hamstring injury that he had sustained during the Asia Cup match against Pakistan last month.

Kusal Perera suffered a strain in his right shoulder while batting and decided to walk off the field in the 10th over of the innings. Before retiring hurt, the left-handed batsman had scored 34 runs off 24 balls. On the other hand, Shanaka scored 3 runs off 17 balls and experienced pain in his left elbow.

Sri Lanka delivers update on trio:

Just before the start of the warm-up game against Afghanistan, SLC delivered the update on the trio. SLC stated that Shanaka is recovering from a strain that he experienced in his left elbow and is currently under medical treatment while Perera is also recovering. Theekshana, on the other hand, will arrive in India on October 4, a day before the World Cup gets underway.

“Captain Dasun Shanaka is not taking part in today’s warm-up game, as the player is recovering from a ‘strain’ he experienced on his left elbow following the warm-up game vs. Bangladesh. He is under medical treatment and is in the process of recovery,” SLC stated in its release.

“Kusal Janith Perera, who experienced pain on his ‘right shoulder’, during Sri Lanka’s warm-up game against Bangladesh, is currently under medical treatment and is in the process of recovery.

“Maheesh Theekshana, who did not travel with the team to India on September 26th, will join the squad on October 4, 2023,” he added.

Warm-up game: Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first.

?Team Updates:

?Dasun Shanaka

Captain Dasun Shanaka is not taking part in today's warm-up game, as the player is recovering from a 'strain' he experienced on his left elbow following the warm-up game vs.… pic.twitter.com/Xf22z8iqXy

— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) October 3, 2023

In Shanaka’s absence, Kusal Mendis is leading the team against Afghanistan. The Islanders are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against South Africa on October 7.

Sri Lanka’s schedule for ICC World Cup 2023 (Time in IST):

October 7, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v South Africa (Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi)
October 10, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v Pakistan (Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad)
October 16, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v Australia (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow)
October 21, 10.30 AM: Sri Lanka v Netherlands (Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow)

October 26, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v England (M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)
October 30, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Gahunje, Pune)
November 2, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v India (Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai)
November 6, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh (Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi)
November 9, 2 PM: Sri Lanka v New Zealand (M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)