Dhammika Prasad injured -- will miss World Cup
Sri Lanka Cricket informed yesterday that Lankan speedster Dhammika Prasad was hit on the outside of the left hand when attempting a return catch while bowling. X- ray showed a fracture of the 5th metacarpal bone. The fracture has been realigned and put in a cast. Dhammika will not be available for the upcoming World Cup.
Sri Lanka Cricket will follow the ICC protocol in order take the process forward.
Commenting on the situation a senior spokesman of SLC said “Right now Chief Selector Sanath Jayasuriya is there with the team management and they are in discussion about what course of action that they should be taking. Once the ICC ratifies Prasad’s injury we could send in a replacement.
“Ideally it should be a fast bowler who would be chosen to replace Prasad and hot in the pipeline are Shaminda Eranga and the new kid in the block – Dushmantha Chameera who bowled very impressively in the only chance that he got.”
The senior spokesman further said that there is also a school of thought that this is the right opportunity for the national selectors to put things right and send in experienced batsman and opener Upul Tharanga.
In Sri Lanka’s last ODI series in Australia Upul Tharanga failed as an opener, but was more productive as a middle order batsman. Besides, Tharanga, the omission of the other dashing opener Kusal Janith Perera also has been a hot topic in cricket circles.