Chameera likely to be out for up to three months, to undergo pre-planned surgery

Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera will likely miss up to three months of cricket, with the player expected to now undergo a pre-planned ankle surgery, after being ruled out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 today.

Chameera, who was instrumental in Sri Lanka beating the United Arab Emirates by 79 runs on Tuesday with figures of 3 for 15, was diagnosed with a tear in the calf muscle of his left leg, an injury which the fast bowler has not experienced in the past.

That injury is likely to take him around six weeks to heal from, and has now given SLC an earlier than expected window for Chameera to have a bone spur on ankle operated on.

“It’s really unfortunate to lose Chameera. He will now undergo a previously-planned surgery on a bone spur in his ankle,” Prof. Arjunade Silva, the Chairman of SLC’s medical panel confirmed.

The injuries to Pramod Madushan and Danishka Gunathilaka are believed to not be so seriously as to rule the duo out from the tournament and they are likely to remain with the squad in Australia.

“Clinically there doesn’t appear to be anything serious with Madushan, so he will remain in Australia for now,” Prof. de Silva added.

Kasun Rajitha has been named as a replacement player for Chameera, and is to be flown out to Australia.

Sri Lanka also lost left-arm pace bowler Dilshan Madushanka on the eve of their World Cup opener against Namibia, with Binura Fernando takinghis place in the squad. 

(Shehan Daniel)