Kasun Rajitha to miss second BAN vs SL Test; Sri Lanka Cricket announces replacement

The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team have suffered a major blow ahead of the second Test match of the series against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. Star fast bowler Kasun Rajitha has been ruled out of the last game of the series, which will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from 30th March.

Kasun Rajitha faced discomfort in his back and was deemed unfit to play. The fast bowler has flown back home and will be undergoing rehabilitation. It will be a massive blow for the team as he has been the main bowler for the team and is going through terrific form in all three formats.

Kasun Rajitha was decent with the ball for Sri Lanka in the first Test against Bangladesh. The fast bowler picked three wickets in the first innings and followed it up with a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the game at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet.

Kasun Rajitha was the main reason behind the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team winning the first match by the massive margin of 328 runs. The fast bowler ran through the Bangladesh Cricket Team’s batting lineup and made sure that his team bundled out the opposition for low totals in both innings.

Sri Lanka Cricket issued an official statement on the injury of Kasun Rajitha. The governing body revealed that the pacer suffered an injury to his left upper back and won’t be taking part in the series. They also mentioned that Asitha Fernando will be replacing Rajitha. The statement read:

“Kasun Rajitha will not be available for the second test match as the player has suffered an injury to his left upper back area. Asitha Fernando joined the squad as a replacement for Rajitha. Kasun will return home to start rehabilitation work.”

Asitha Fernando has been decent with the ball for Sri Lanka in the Test cricket. The fate bowler has played 13 Tests for the team and has bagged 41 wickets at an average of 26. His presence will bolster the visitors’ bowling lineup in the series.

Sri Lanka in the first game was nothing short of exceptional. They batted and bowled well and made sure they took an early lead in the series. With the bat, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis were heroes as they slammed twin centuries. Whereas apart from Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando shined with the ball.

Sri Lanka National Cricket Team for the second Test against Bangladesh; Kasun Rajitha misses out

Here’s the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team for the second Test against Bangladesh:

Dhananjaya De Silva (C) , Kusal Mendis (vc), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nishan Madushka, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, Nishan Peiris, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Gunasekara.

Earlier Bangladesh National Cricket Team also announced their squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka. Veteran Shakib Al Hasan will be returning to the team for the first time since the ICC World Cup 2023. Apart from him, Hasan Mahmud has been included in the team.

Here’s the squad:

Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Zakir Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Litton Kumer Das, Mominul Haque Showrab, Shakib Al Hasan, Shahadat Hossain Dipu, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud