Asitha Fernando will replace Dushmantha Chameera in Sri Lanka’s team for the three-match T20I series against India, the Sri Lanka Cricket said in an official release on Wednesday.
A respiratory illness has kept Chameera out of the 16-man squad for the forthcoming T20Is against India, which get underway in Pallekele on Friday.
“Dushmantha Chameera is still recovering from bronchitis and respiratory infection he contracted, and hence will not be part of the T20I series.”
“Asitha Fernando joins the squad in place of Chameera,” according to Sri Lanka Cricket’s post on X.
For the same reason, he wasn’t selected for the Kandy Falcons in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) toward the end of the competition. However, he had played in some of the Kandy Falcons’ Lanka Premier League (LPL) games.
Upul Tharanga, Sri Lanka’s chief selector, and recently appointed interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya gave an update on the team’s progress for the upcoming series during a media briefing on Wednesday. “Only yesterday did we get back the reports, and it can be confirmed that he (Dushmantha Chameera) will miss the T20Is and ODIs against India,” Tharanga said.
Read More: India Squad for Sri Lanka Tour 2024
Injuries & Chameera’s Career
The 32-year-old Chameera made his international debut for Sri Lanka in 2015 and bowls at a very good pace but has been troubled by injuries throughout his career. He has so far taken 32, 56, and 55 wickets in 12 Tests, 52 ODIs, and 55 T20 matches.
The selectors have always admired him for his ability and accuracy. However, since 2022, the pacer has been facing a bad phase in his career full of injuries.
A calf injury kept Chameera out of the Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. His shoulder injury prevented him from taking part in the Asia Cup in 2023. He was then named as Matheesha Pathirana’s successor but was unable to play in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
A quadriceps issue also kept him out of the Afghanistan and Bangladesh home series earlier this year. Despite being picked for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, he failed to represent his country in any matches.
Asitha Fernando, who has replaced Chameera, has only played three T20Is so far. He had a match-winning spell in the Lanka Premier League 2024 final, going 3 for 35. Although he, too, did not have a successful LPL season, taking only 7 wickets in 9 games with an economy of 9.71.
Sri Lanka’s updated squad for the T20I series against India
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando
