Mirpur, March 14: Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup campaign has been dealt a blow with Angelo Mathews being ruled out of the tournament due to a calf injury. Shaminda Eranga replaces the fellow allrounder in the Lankan squad.
Confirming the news, Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said, "The last couple of days Angelo has had some fitness tests; he hasn't pulled through those well, so we made a call to send him back home. He will try to get ready for the Test matches [against England] that start in about ten days' time. The selectors back home will decide [on the matter] and send a replacement for us.”
Mathews missed the third final of the CB Series that Sri Lanka lost to Australia. He was also absent from the team that was trounced by India in the first match of the Asia Cup for the two sides.
“I guess I am a bit unfortunate [when it comes to] finals; I missed out on the World Cup 2011 final as well as the three finals in Australia [in the CB Series]. And I have to miss out one or two games here. So yes, it is very frustrating,” Mathews had said when he was forced to sit out the Asia Cup game against India on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka’s pace spearhead, Lasith Malinga, who was rested for Tuesday’s match, is likely to come back for the encounter against Pakistan.
Jayawardene revealed the paceman was given a break to recover from niggles."Malinga played through injury in the final two matches of the CB Series, so we decided to give him a break [against India]. Yesterday he bowled a bit, he will be bowling today as well, and after his bowling session we will take a call on him tomorrow."
