Just before their upcoming T20I series opener against India, hosts Sri Lanka have been handed yet another big blow with Binura Fernando being hospitalised. This has forced the home side to bring in the off-spinner Ramesh Mendis on stand-by for their squad.
A statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Friday said left-arm fast-bowler Fernando has been hospitalised because of a chest infection. Subsequently, they have now brought Mendis into the Charith Asalanka-led T20I squad as a standby player.
Fernando had a fairly decent campaign in the recently concluded Lanka Premier League 2024 where he took 13 wickets in the 8 games he featured for the Colombo Strikers at an economy of 6.81.
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This would be their third blow to their side. Earlier the likes of Dusmanatha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara were ruled out due to bronchitis and a fractured left thumb respectively. They had announced Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka as their replacements in the squad.
India begins their tour of Sri Lanka with back-to-back T20Is on July 27 and 28, followed by the third game on July 30 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The scene then shifts to the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo hosting three ODIs on August 2, 4 and 7 respectively.
Sri Lanka will hope that they can make do with the adjusted squad as they hope to make a massive statement following their disastrous T20 World Cup 2024 campaign where they did not make it past the group stage. This has led to Wanindu Hasaranga resigning from his role as the captain and the responsibility has now been handed down to Charith Asalanka.
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The Lankan side has been performing far from their expected levels and the series against the reigning T20 World Champions, India will prove to be a massive Test to show why they should be regarded as a top side.
(with agency inputs)
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