Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera will not be part of the white-ball series against India at home this time, Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Wednesday. He has been ill with bronchitis and respiratory infection and he is still recovering from it.
Because Chameera’s absence, the cricket board has invited Asitha Fernando to replace him in the squad. So, Fernando will come in as a replacement for Chameera.
Sri Lanka Cricket tweeted that, “Dushmantha Chameera is still battling bronchitis and a respiratory infection that have kept him out of the T20I series”.
“Chameera has been replaced by Asitha Fernando.”
Earlier today, ”confirmed” Upul Tharanga who is the chief selector of Sri Lanka that chameera wont feature in upcoming six-match series. Which comprises of three T20Is and three ODIs.
As quoted by Parami News during a presser where newly appointed interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya was also present. Tharanga said, “Yesterday we got the reports, and it can be confirmed that he will miss the T20Is and ODIs against India.”
Asitha was 26 years old when he took three wickets to help Jaffna Kings beat Galle Marvels in the final of Lanka Premier League.
In spite of his impressive speed since debuting in 2015, Chameera’s career has been plagued with recurring setbacks.
Throughout his international career so far, Chameera played 12 Tests matches for Sri Lanka apart from appearing in 52 ODIs as well as featuring in 55. T20 games taking 32 wickets (Tests), 56 wickets (ODIs) or 55 wickets (Twenty-20). Injuries have limited how much he could contribute to his national team despite significant contributions.
Notably, Chameera missed some last matches for Kandy Falcons in the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The precise time and nature of his most recent injury are still unclear.
A calf injury kept Chameera out of some major events like the 2022 Asia Cup and subsequent. T20 World Cup in Australia.
Moreover, he missed the shoulder injury forced him to miss the 2023. Asia Cup and was not initially included in last year’s ODI World Cup squad. However, he was later named as one of Matheesha Pathirana’s replacements after the latter got hurt.
Thus, a quad strain meant he could not play in home series with Afghanistan and Bangladesh earlier this year.
Although listed for recently concluded T20 World Cup held in America, he did not appear on any match.
Gautam Gambhir might be gambled by India as their first ever head coach during their tour of Sri Lanka in upcoming series.
Pallekele will host all the three T20s starting with July 27. The second encounter is scheduled for July 28 while the third one will be played on July 30th.
Afterwards an ODI series of three matches will follow at Colombo. The fifty over games happen on August 2nd, 4th at seven.
