Sri Lanka’s injury woes deepen as Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of cricket T20 World Cup
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Sri Lanka's Matheesha Pathirana suffers a leg injury in the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup group-stage match against Australia at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Feb 16, 2026.
PHOTO: AFP
Sri Lanka’s cricket Twenty20 World Cup campaign was dealt another blow on Feb 18 when Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a muscle strain in his left leg, with Dilshan Madushanka approved as a replacement.
The 23-year-old collapsed clutching his left leg in his first over in the Group B clash with Australia in Pallekele on Feb 16.
A trusted bowler in the death overs, he limped off and never returned as Sri Lanka registered an eight-wicket victory.
This is the second major injury blow Sri Lanka have had to endure after wrist-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out with a hamstring injury that he picked up in the side’s tournament opener against Ireland.
Sri Lanka next play Zimbabwe in Colombo in their final Group B fixture on Feb 19 before their first Super Eight game against England on Feb 22. REUTERS
