Sri Lanka have suffered another injury setback with the news that Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring problem.
The 25-year-old batsman retired hurt with the injury after making 52 in his side’s defeat to Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The International Cricket Council confirmed today that its event technical committee for the tournament has approved Kusal Perera as a replacement player for Chandimal in Sri Lanka’s squad.
Kusal has played 41 one-day internationals, scoring 839 runs including one century and four fifties, with his last appearance coming against England in Pallekele last December.
Chandimal is the islanders’ third player to be ruled out of the showpiece following injuries to seamer Dhammika Prasad and batsman Dimuth Karunaratne.
However, Sri Lanka – who are also monitoring the fitness of spinner Rangana Herath – have already qualified for the quarter-finals and play Scotland in their final Pool A outing tomorrow.