Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews along with seamer Nuwan Pradeep and all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka have sustained injuries and will be flying back home ahead of the third T20 against South Africa in Cape Town on 25th January.
Sri Lanka on Sunday defeated hosts by three wickets in the second T20 at Johannesburg and levelled the three-match series one all. As per the Sri Lankan cricket release, Mathews would be returning on personal grounds, however, he did sustain a hamstring injury during his match-winning knock of 54 runs.
Bowler Nuwan Pradeep suffered an injury to his hand during the opening T20, while Danushka Gunathilaka will be kept out with a back pain. It is unclear for how long Mathews will be out, but Pradeep and Gunathilaka have certainly been ruled out of the tour. Vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal will lead the visitors in the meantime.
Blow to these three players will harm Sri Lanka’s chances of winning the last T20 in Newlands, as the five-match ODI series follows after this.
For South Africa, returning of Ab de Villiers will boost their chances in the final T20 game, as recently he hammered an unbeaten 134 in the domestic structure. Also, later in the day, he passed the fitness test.