Bipin Dani
Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad which reached Guwahati today (Wednesday) is without its ace-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. The 23-year-old right-arm off-spinner had not boarded the flight”, one of the top Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials confirmed.
“He did not attend the religious ceremony either”, the source further added. “At present, his participation in the World Cup is not in doubt but now he has been sent to the rehabilitation centre at the High Performance Unit. His fitness is being monitored by the physio Thihan Chandramohan”, the source said.
The spinner had been ruled out of the final of the men’s Asia Cup against India because of a hamstring injury after being injured himself in Sri Lanka’s last-ball win against Pakistan. In the Asia Cup, Theekshana had hurt his right hamstring while sliding near the boundary in the match.
According to multiple sources, there was a difference of opinion between the physio and the radiologist. It was assumed a Grade 3 injury but it did not have a big tear, though the MRI scan was showing it, according to the medical team and therefore he has been included in the squad and likely to join the team during a later stage of the tournament. The 15-member team which reached Guwahati has Chamika Karunaratne as a travelling reserve.
