Hamstrung Rajitha out of Karachi Test

Sri Lanka pacer Kasun Rajitha has been ruled out of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi starting on Thursday (December 19). The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring sprain on the final day of the rain-marred Rawalpindi Test.

The visitors have not announced a replacement for the seamer and may even not fly another player as cover given the short turnaround between the two games and the fact that there are no further matches scheduled on this Test tour. Sri Lanka are also missing the services of Suranga Lakmal who was ruled out of the series after contracting dengue.

Asitha Fernando, uncapped in the Test format, could play alongside the two frontline seamers Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara. Alternatively, Sri Lanka have the option of playing an additional spinner with Lasith Embuldeniya and Lakshan Sandakan to choose from.

Rajitha bowled six overs in Pakistan's first (and only) innings of the Test on the final day in Rawalpindi before he was forced off with the injury. He dismissed Shan Masood for a duck and conceded only five runs over the course of a tight spell.