Sri Lanka pacer ruled out of India T20I series
Sri Lanka right-arm fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera will miss their home T20I series against India due to an illness.
Sri Lanka announced their 16-member squad to face India on Tuesday, 23 July. Dushmantha Chameera was named as a part of that list. However, the news of him being ruled out has come in. SLC confirmed that Chameera is recovering from bronchitis and respiratory infection.
Asitha Fernando has been named as his replacement. The right-arm pace bowler has featured regularly in the Sri Lanka Test side but has not played a T20I since 2022 with experience of only three matches in the format.
"Only yesterday did we get back the reports, and it can be confirmed that he will miss the T20Is and ODIs against India," Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka's Chief Selector said at a briefing on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Chameera, who has featured in 55 T20Is for Sri Lanka, has picked up 55 wickets at 28.87. He last featured for the Island nation in a T20I series against Zimbabwe in January this year.
While Chameera was also a part of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup squad, he did not feature in a single game in the tournament. Despite making his debut in 2015 and being a key part of the side initially, frequent injuries in the last couple of years have kept the pacer from being a regular part of the playing XI in the shortest format.
Sri Lanka's squad for the India T20I series will be led by a new captain - Charith Asalanka, post Wanindu Hasaranga's resignation after the T20 World Cup.
The three-match series begins on 27 July in Pallekele.
Sri Lanka squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando