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Sri Lanka reached the final of Asia Cup 2023 but they missed the services of their star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga who is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Amidst reports of him getting ruled out of the upcoming World Cup, Sri Lanka's medical panel head Arjuna de Silva cleared the air by providing an update.
“We are consulting foreign doctors to see whether he needs surgery or not. If he does, he will be out for at least three months. At the moment, the situation is not that great and it's highly unlikely that he can play the World Cup,” De Silva told Sri Lanka's The Sunday Times newspaper as quoted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“Since he is a key weapon in our attack, we are looking at other options to see how best we can get his services at least for important games. All that depends on the opinions of the consultant to whom we are trying to show his reports,” he added.
If Hasaranga does not recover in time, Sri Lanka will go into the tournament with an inexperienced and depleted bowling attack. Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage showed promise with a record fifer against India at the Super Fours state but Hasaranga has been a consistent performer for the Dasun Shanaka-led side.
Hasaranga registered three consecutive fifers in the ODI World Cup 2023 Qualifiers to equal former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis' record. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in the last two editions of the T20 World Cup as well. In the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023, he led B-Love Kandy to their maiden title win despite missing the final. Also, he finished as the highest run-scorer and wicket-taker in the LPL.
After a record-breaking 10-wicket loss to Rohit Sharma's India in the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka will begin their World Cup preparations against Bangladesh on September 29. On October 3, they will face Afghanistan as well. Sri Lanka will begin their World Cup 2023 campaign against in-form Temba Bavuma-led South Africa at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are yet to name their 15-member squad for the mega event. The last date to submit the squad is September 28.
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