Sri Lanka has made a strategic move to bolster its squad in the ongoing 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup in India by enlisting Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera as traveling reserves. This decision was taken to address the unpredictability of injuries or illnesses that could affect the team’s performance in the upcoming matches.
Sri Lanka faced adversity even before the tournament commenced, losing star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga due to an injury. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana also missed the opening game of the World Cup, further straining the team’s resources.
The injury list continued to grow with the unfortunate losses of pacer Matheesha Pathirana and skipper Dasun Shanaka. In fact, Shanaka’s injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament, and he has been officially replaced by Chamika Karunaratne in the squad.
Mathews and Chameera are set to join the Sri Lankan squad on Friday, October 20, just one day before their next fixture against the Netherlands in Lucknow. Notably, Chameera, initially ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury, has made a remarkable recovery and is now fully fit. His addition to the team is expected to fortify Sri Lanka’s bowling department, providing the team with a much-needed boost as they strive to secure their first victory in the tournament.