Bipin Dani
Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne has finger injury and the team management is awaiting physio’s report, it is learnt here.
According to the sources in South Africa, the 32-year-old captain had hurt his finger while stopping the ball on Monday and he came to bat with the painkillers on the 3rd day. He scored 103 runs in the second innings but could not save the Test.
The captain also didn’t come to the field during South Africa’s second inning on Tuesday and the team was led by Niroshan Dickwella, though the selectors had not officially named him as team’s vice captain.
There will be a Sri Lankan squad of at least 22-23 players for the forthcoming home Test series against England, it is also learnt.
“We sent 21 players to South Africa and five injured players will be replaced by another five and as originally picked Angelo Mathews will also return to the squad”, a well-placed source said to this reporter.
The team management have requested Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Avishka Fernando, Ramesh Mendis and Roshen Silva.
“In fact, addition of one more player is not ruled out either”. Dinesh Chandimal and Suranga Lakmal are likely to recover before the Test series begins on January 14.
No early arrival Sri Lankan team is not likely to arrive early though the Test match ended two days before the scheduled time. They are booked on a Chartered flight on Friday.
The head coach wanted to give a two-day practice to the players. The facilities are there but in the absence of bio-bubble at the ground, the players will now only train in the hotel.
