Reports suggest Sri Lanka’s World Cup 2023 prospects will take a hit as Wanindu Hasaranga might be ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during his rehabilitation, crushing hopes of his return for the event in India.
Sri Lanka’s hopes for the ICC World Cup 2023 have been dealt a severe blow as Wanindu Hasaranga is poised to miss the tournament. The star all-rounder was conspicuously absent from the recent Asia Cup 2023 due to an injury he sustained during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.
Although initial expectations were for his return during the Asia Cup’s Super Four stage, developments have taken a grim turn. ESPN Cricinfo reported last month that Hasaranga suffered a thigh strain, sidelining him for the LPL final and the Asia Cup 2023. Subsequent revelations suggest that during his rehabilitation, Hasaranga incurred a hamstring injury, dashing any hopes of his comeback for the prestigious event set in India.
Hasaranga has undeniably been the backbone of Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, emerging as their premier wicket-taker. Since the 2019 World Cup, he has scalped an impressive 58 wickets in 39 ODIs, showcasing a remarkable strike rate of 34.8 and a miserly average of 4.84.
His exceptional performances extended beyond the international stage, as he dominated the Lanka Premier League. In a rare feat, Hasaranga emerged as both the tournament’s highest run-scorer and highest wicket-taker, amassing 279 runs in 9 games while claiming 19 wickets. Notably, his partnership with Maheesh Theekshana proved lethal, particularly on spin-friendly pitches.
The absence of Hasaranga compounds Sri Lanka’s injury woes, with pacer Dushmantha Chameera also sidelined due to a shoulder injury. These significant setbacks to their bowling attack could potentially hinder Sri Lanka’s prospects of clinching the World Cup, especially when teams like India and England boast formidable bench strength. Sri Lanka now faces an uphill battle in the tournament without two key pillars of their bowling unit.
Last Updated on September 24, 2023
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