Injury-prone KJP defies medical advice to play LPL, risking recovery
Opener Kusal Janith Perera has defied medical advice to feature in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), jeopardising his chances of playing in the series against Zimbabwe and Australia, a communication by SLC’s lead physiotherapist revealed.
Perera sprained his shoulder during a practice session ahead of the Indian limited over series in July. While he returned to play the subsequent series against South Africa and the T20 World Cup in UAE, it was obvious the left-handed wicketkeeper/batter was playing with pain and discomfort.
This took a toll on Perera’s own performances as he scored just 161 runs in his last 13 innings (excluding his 58 off 38 in their final LPL group game against Kandy Warriors on Friday) at a miserable average of 13.41.
Brett Harrop, the lead physiotherapist, has recommended that he skips the LPL and the forthcoming limited over series against Zimbabwe in order to go through an extended period of rehabilitation with possible surgery to keep him fully fit for the next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Harrop has said that, continuing to delay the rehabilitation process could have a negative impact on Perera's injury. He is part of the Colombo Stars team of the LPL.
“If the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November 2022 is the primary focus and, secondary to that, the Australian T20 tour in February, the best opportunity we have to get Kusal’s shoulder rehabilitated for these is for him to continue his current rehabilitation and for him not to play the LPL or the Zimbabwe series. This provides a decent window (12 weeks in total) to give him the best opportunity to recover from the ongoing issue,” he wrote in an email to SLC.
Head of SLC’s Medical Panel Prof. Arjuna de Silva confirmed that they were against the player participating in the LPL given the seriousness of his injury, but allowed him to decide as it's a franchise tournament.
“We have explained to him the consequences of playing with the injury and it was his call," Prof. de Silva said, adding that they had wanted him to be taken off from the World Cup after the qualifying round.
“He was not 100 percent fit but was match-fit to play the World Cup," he continued.
"We wanted him out after the preliminary round but the coach wanted him in the squad." Prof. de Silva said, adding that while surgery is an option, they would not recommend it given the risk factors.
"However, he has agreed to go through the rehabilitation process at the conclusion of the LPL. At the end of the day, we didn’t want to deprive him of his livelihood."
Chief selector Pramodya Wickremasinghe said they are aware of the situation and would not consider any player for selection unless he is 100 percent fit for any future international tours.
“We have discussed this at length and even informed SLC of our decision when it comes to the fitness of players. We will not take half- fit players in the future and that’s a firm no,” he said.
After the World Cup, Perera had even wanted to play in the Abu Dhabi T10 league but was turned down by SLC.
Apart from Perera, Wickremasinghe said Maheesh Theekshana and Binura Fernando also need to fully recover in order to be selected for national duty and this has been conveyed to the team management.
Angelo Mathews, who sustained a hamstring injury during the West Indies series, is playing with the injury in the ongoing LPL despite at least four weeks rest
being recommended.