Replacement named as Sri Lanka lose another key player to injury
Fernando hurt his left hamstring during his first and only over of Sri Lanka's seven-wicket loss to Australia in Perth on Tuesday and team officials have moved quickly to rule the 27-year-old out for the rest of the T20 World Cup and name a replacement.
Fellow seamer Asita Fernando is drafted into Sri Lanka's 15-player squad for the remainder of the tournament and the inexperienced right-armer could come into consideration for a spot in their XI for their next match against New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday.
The loss of Fernando is another blow to Sri Lanka's chances of winning a second T20 World Cup title, with the island nation having already lost Danushka Gunathilaka (hamstring), Dushmantha Chameera (calf) and Dilshan Madushanka (quad) to injury previously.
Marcus Stoinis powers Australia to big win over Sri Lanka | Match Highlights | T20WC 2022
Match highlights of Marcus Stoinis and Australia chasing down Sri Lanka's competitive total in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022.
Sri Lanka currently sit in second place in Group 1 with one win and a solitary loss from two Super 12 matches and their clash against the in-form Kiwis on Saturday looms as a crucial encounter for Dasun Shanaka's side.
**Sri Lanka squad:**Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Ashen Bandara, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, Asita Fernando. Standby Players: Praveen Jayawickrema, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwanidu Fernando.
