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Why Is Matheesha Pathirana Not Playing In SL vs BAN 3rd T20I?

Aashay Chopade

Matheesha Pathirana for Sri Lanka (Source:@ThurunuJ/X.com)Matheesha Pathirana for Sri Lanka (Source:@ThurunuJ/X.com)

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are all set to play the decider of the T20I series at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The home team won the first game while Bangladesh made a strong comeback in the second encounter.

Matheesha Pathirana Fails To Get A Single Game In Bangladesh T20I Series

Now, for the final game, both teams have made a couple of changes, and the Lankans have brought in Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis in their XI. However, Matheesha Pathirana, who did not get the chance to play in the initial two matches, has been ignored once again.

Pathirana has been a go-to bowler for CSK in the last few years, but injuries have constantly haunted him. As a result, he has played only 19 games for his country, and so other players have moved up the pecking order. In this series, Sri Lanka have opted to go with Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando as their two frontline pacers.

The same two bowlers are playing the third game too, as they have done well in the two games so far. Binura Fernando picked three wickets in the last match, while Thushara has been impressive in different junctures of the game.

Sri Lanka Opt For Variety In Pace Department

Also, Thushara and Pathirana are similar kinds of bowlers with their actions and skills of delivering yorkers at the death. Like Pathirana, Thushara has also done well in T20 leagues across the globe and has even more experience than Pathirana. So, as of now, the Lankan team management seems to back him over Pathirana and Eshan Malinga, who are in the squad as reserve pacers.

Binura Fernando provides variety with his left-arm angle, which has helped him play over Matheesha Pathirana and Malinga. Also, with this being the decider, the management has probably decided to go with tried and tested bowlers of the series rather than any new addition.