The distress of Sri Lankan team does not seem to end as few days before the start of the third and final test they endured another huge blow. This time Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the final Test in Pallekele starting from August 12 due to a severe back injury.

Herath is the latest addition to the Sri Lanka’s agony after Asela Gunaratne with a fractured thumb, Suranga Lakmal with a back injury, Nuwan Pradeep with a hamstring injury and Dinesh Chandimal who missed the first test due to illness.

Herath is the main spearhead of the Sri Lanka’s bowling attack and his unavailability will weaken the bowling attack when Sri Lanka take on India in the final test to gain some pride after losing the first two tests.

A source close to the Sri Lankan Cricket Board told Cricbuzz he has been complaining about a back pain for quite some time now and the management doesn’t want to take any risk as they have a long season to play. Sri Lanka will play a two test match series in UAE against Pakistan and then they will travel to India to play a three match test series in November.

The source was heard saying, “Rangana complained about a back pain and we don”t want to take any chances with him. He is our leading bowler and we have a hectic season ahead. Hence we thought not to risk him for the final game of the series already lost,”

The 39-year-old left-arm spinner who captained the side in the first test due to Chandimal’s illness has bowled as many as 151 overs in his last three matches in just three weeks.

India completed an easy series win as they beat Sri Lanka by 304 runs in the first Test in Galle and then by an innings and 53 runs in Colombo.