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Sri Lanka's frontline spinner Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out of their World Cup 2023 opener against South Africa on October 7. Sri Lanka's head coach Chris Silverwood confirmed the news on the eve of the game in the press conference.
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"Theekshana is still recovering from a hamstring injury, so he won't be available for this game," Silverwood told the reporters. "But we expect him to be available very soon. The rest of them are fine."
With Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the tournament already and Theekshana unfit, the spin-bowling department will be led by young left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage. The left-arm spinner will be supported by Dhananjaya de Silva and leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha if he finds a place in the side.
"Dunith has shown us what a good young cricketer he is," Silverwood said. "He's got an old head on young shoulders and I think he's played his cricket with maturity so far. I think he's shown his worth with bat and ball and he's a good young fielder as well.
"We're not going to put any more pressure on him than that, so for me he goes out and he plays his way. He knows his role in the team and he's very happy with that. So, for me it's about not putting pressure on these guys, it's about taking pressure off them and I want him to go out and enjoy himself and show the rest of the world how good he is and if we can do that and give him that freedom, I think we'll see the best of him."
Theekshana got injured before the Asia Cup 2023 final against India. He sustained an injury picked up during the league match against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka and South Africa have gone up against each other six times in ODI World Cup. Sri Lanka have only won one World Cup match against South Africa in 1992. They lost in World Cup 1999 whereas the clash in 2003 edition ended in a tie. In 2007, 2015 and 2019, they lost all three encounters.
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