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Sri Lanka Suffer Injury Jolt As Wanindu Hasaranga Unlikely To Feature In Asia Cup 2025

Anurag Dasgupta

Hasaranga doubtful for Asia Cup [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com] Hasaranga doubtful for Asia Cup [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com]

Ahead of the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka has received a massive injury jolt in the form of their star all-rounder, Wanindu Hasaranga. The wily player was left out of Sri Lanka's T20I squad for the Zimbabwe series, and his participation in the Asia Cup is in jeopardy due to a hamstring issue.

Hasaranga hurt his hamstring during the T20I series against Bangladesh in July, and he hasn’t recovered from the injury, facing a race against time to be fit for the marquee event, and as a result, was snubbed from the Zimbabwe matches, which begin on Friday.

Who could replace Hasaranga if he gets sidelined from Asia Cup?

Sri Lanka does have a couple of options when it comes to replacing Hasaranga in the Asia Cup squad. With the UAE conditions favouring the spinners, Hasaranga’s quality would be missed, but in Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, the Island Nation has two prominent spinners in its ranks.

In Kamindu Mendis, the team also has a quality spin-bowling all-rounder, and hence, the Sri Lankan side could go in with three spinners in their ranks.

Why Sri Lanka would miss Hasaranga's services if he misses Asia Cup?

Wanindu Hasaranga boasts a stellar record in T20Is and has excelled in this format. He is potent in the power-play, and is equally effective in the middle overs as batters tend to find it hard to pick his variations. In 79 T20I matches, the spinner has 131 wickets, with an average of 15.41 and an economy of 6.98. Plus, the pitches in UAE would have favoured him, but now the team might have to take wickets without his services.

Sri Lanka squad for Zimbabwe series

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Vishen Halambage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana