Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a calf strain, dealing a massive blow to Sri Lanka ahead of the Super 8 stage. Batting coach Vikram Rathour confirmed the development regarding Pathirana while speaking to reporters before Sri Lanka’s final group match against Zimbabwe on February 19 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
“I believe he has been declared unfit for the remainder of the tournament. If it hasn’t been officially announced yet, I expect that update to be released soon,” Rathour said in the pre-match press conference.
Pathirana limped off just four balls into his spell against Australia after suffering the suspected calf strain. He went down clutching his left leg immediately after delivering the fourth ball of his opening over during Sri Lanka’s clash against Australia in Pallekele.
The physio rushed onto the field, and Pathirana was subsequently assisted off the ground. It was Dasun Shanaka who completed the remaining two deliveries of the over. Meanwhile, Pathirana did not return to bowl for the rest of the innings, raising immediate concerns over the severity of the injury.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have drafted in left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka as a replacement for Pathirana. Madushanka has featured in 15 T20Is since making his debut in 2022, claiming 15 wickets at an economy rate of 9.75.
He was also Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker at the 2023 World Cup and the third-highest overall, behind Mohammed Shami and Adam Zampa. In nine matches, Madushanka picked up 21 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.70, including a five-wicket haul.
WILL MATHEESHA PATHIRANA PLAY IN IPL?
Matheesha Pathirana will miss the T20 World Cup due to injury, but his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is not in doubt for the time being. The Sri Lankan speedster was bought for Rs 18 crore by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the auction held last December.
Sri Lanka have impressed at the T20 World Cup 2026, winning all three of their group-stage matches to advance to the Super 8. They defeated Ireland by 20 runs and then chased down 182 against Australia by eight wickets, with Pathum Nissanka scoring an unbeaten century to seal qualification. Their flawless run has positioned them as one of the strongest contenders heading into the next phase of the tournament.
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