Sri Lanka is dealt another injury blow as fast bowler Binura Fernando will miss the first match against India. The left-handed pacer was hospitalised due to a chest infection, Sri Lanka Cricket reported. Before this, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara had also missed out on the series because of their respective sicknesses: the former with bronchitis and the latter with a finger injury.
The recently ended Lanka Premier League was an amazing experience for Binura Fernando. Aged 29, the fast bowler who represented Colombo Strikers took 13 wickets in eight matches with an economy rate of 6.81. He partnered with Mateesha Pathirana another national team player; together they formed a significant strike partnership during powerplay and final overs respectively.
🚨Binura Fernando has been hospitalized as the player is suffering from a chest infection.
Ramesh Mendis has been brought into the squad as a standby player. #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/aR25DtAb5s
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) July 26, 2024
Ramesh Mendis is substituting for Binura Fernando in the Sri Lanka squad
As a replacement for Binura Fernando, the right-arm off-spinner Ramesh Mendis has been called up. He was one of those that traveled as a reserve and is now part of the team along with Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
Mendis, who is only 25 years old, just finished a disappointing Lanka Premier League season. While representing Kandy Falcons, he managed to take just 4 wickets from the 6 matches he played. Ramesh Mendis has only played two matches in T20I cricket for Sri Lanka.
The debut against India was his first match and he has two games to his name in this shortest format. He took the only wicket that he has in T20Is, which is a notable achievement as it happened during the T20I series when he dismissed Devdutt Paddikal.
Sri Lanka will square off with India on July 27 at Pallekele in a T20I series. Then from August 2nd these sides will engage each other in an ODI series.
Revised Sri Lankan Team for the T20I Series Against India: Charith Asalanka (C), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dinesh Chandimal, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, and Ramesh Mendis.
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