Why Matheesha Pathirana Is Not Playing Against Netherlands?

image-lnzn7r8wPathirana and Shanaka both aren't playing against NED (AP Photo)

Sri Lanka entered the critical league-stage encounter of the ICC World Cup 2023 in Lucknow against the Netherlands without their unorthodox right-arm seamer Matheesha Pathirana on Saturday (October 21). 

The speedster, who evokes memories of great Lasith Malinga in his prime with his slingy action and below-eye-line release, was missing from the playing XI when stand-in skipper Kusal Mendis came out for toss duties versus the Dutch. 

The Lankan Lions were dealt a major blow as they strived to finally get a win on the board following three successive defeats to start the tournament in India. Pathirana had been ruled out of the fixture at the Ekana Cricket Stadium with a shoulder injury. 

The youngster had also missed Sri Lanka's previous clash against Australia with an injury concern for the team management and the speedster stayed put on the sidelines with the shoulder issue, which now threatens to rule him out of the entire World Cup. 


Why Mattheesha Pathirana missed the Netherlands game? 

The injury seems to have worsened in the past few days as the think-tank ruled out Pathirana from the Netherlands clash and now ponder over his potential long-term replacement for the remainder of their campaign. 

Notably, Sri Lanka on Friday (October 21) recalled skiddy pacer Dushmantha Chameera as one of their two travelling reserves for the World Cup. Chameera, who had been initially ruled out of the World Cup with an ankle injury, has now recovered fully for the selectors and the medical staff to provide him a nod to make the India trip. 

If Pathirana is indeed ruled out of the tournament, he could be replaced by Chameera in a swap that would provide Sri Lanka a much-needed boost of experience in their pace attack. The Lankan Lions have struggled for control and consistency with the ball in the campaign so far and could look at Chameera for solutions. 

Pathirana failed woefully on that front for the Lankan Lions after conceding runs at a disastrous economy rate of 9.73 in his team's first two matches, with his two wickets also coming at a highly damaging average of 92.50.