2017 ICC Champions Trophy: Kusal Perera Ruled Out, Replaced By Dhananjaya de Silva
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:43 PM
Sri Lanka’s already desperate injury problems became even worse ahead of their must-win game against Pakistan when their in-form batsman Kusal Perera became the second player after Chamara Kapugedera to be ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to injury. The left-handed batsman will be replaced by allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva.
KJP, who suffered a hamstring injury during side's win over India, will be replaced by @Dhananjaya7575. READ: https://t.co/J9OMEsK861 #CT17
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 10, 2017
Perera suffered a hamstring injury during his team’s brilliant seven-wicket victory over defending champions India at The Oval on Thursday (June 8). He had to retire hurt mid-way through his knock. But before retiring, he played a crucial knock of 47 runs and added 75 runs with skipper Angelo Mathews to put Sri Lanka on path for a comfortable victory.
De Silva, Perera’s replacement, last played an One-Day International in February this year, during Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa. So far, he has played 16 ODIs, scoring 334 runs with the help of three fifties.
Asanka Gurusinha, Sri Lanka’s team manager, meanwhile, has hinted that De Silva is likely to be included in the playing eleven for the crunch clash against Pakistan as senior batsman Upul Tharanga is also unavailable for selection after being suspended because of the over-rate ban he picked up when standing in for injured captain Angelo Mathews in the tournament-opener against South Africa.
“We got bad news last night that his hamstring injury worse than everyone thought so Kusal is out of the tournament,” Asanka Gurusinha said.
“The doctor’s comment was that it’s a pretty serious hamstring injury. He will most likely fly home in the next few days. With Upul suspended that’s why we got Dhananjaya down pretty quickly because we needed a batsman.”