In what came as a disastrous development for Sri Lankan Cricket and its supporters, star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was reportedly ruled out from the upcoming 2023 ODI World Cup scheduled to be staged in India. According to multiple reports originating from Sri Lankan media, the 26-year-old champion leggie has a grade three hamstring tear and the injury will force him to miss the quadrennial mega competition. Earlier, Hasaranga also missed the 2023 Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka is also sweating over the fitness of fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, who has been nursing an injury and missed a ton of time. The Islanders played the Asia Cup without their four main bowlers, including Hasaranaga and Chameera.
Talking about Hasaranga, the leg-spinner has emerged as the Islanders' biggest match-winner in white-ball cricket. Be it T20Is or ODIs, the 26-year-old has scripted numerous wins for Sri Lanka.
The former No.1-ranked T20I bowler, has bagged 91 wickets in 58 matches at a fantastic economy rate of 6.89. In 48 ODIs, Hasaranga has picked 67 wickets at an economy rate of 5.07. Apart from delivering with the bowl, Hasaranga is no mug with the bat and, time and again he has proven himself to be a more than handy batter in the lower order.
The right-handed aggressive batter has six half-centuries to his name in international cricket, including one each in Tests and T20Is and four fifties in ODIs.
Hasaranga might be just 26 years old but he boasts a wealth of experience. The leg-spinner has played franchise T20 cricket in competitions all around the world, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India. In T20 cricket, Hasaranga has bagged 208 wickets in 155 matches at an economy rate of 6.85. Hasaranga has played 26 matches in IPL, picking 35 wickets in the process at an economy rate of 8.13.
Not having Hasaranga's services will be a colossal blow for Sri Lanka as the leg-spinner boasts the experience of playing in Indian conditions.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Cricket board is yet to announce the 15-member senior men's squad for the ODI World Cup.
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