A big loss to Srilanka ahead of Asia Cup final against India
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Maheesh Theekshana, the talented spinner from Sri Lanka, will be absent from the Asia Cup final against India due to a hamstring injury sustained during their victory over Pakistan, as confirmed by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) on Saturday.
The 23-year-old cricketer strained his right hamstring while making a sliding effort near the boundary and subsequently received medical attention from the team's physiotherapist. Remarkably, Theekshana displayed tremendous resilience by bowling three more overs before eventually requiring assistance to leave the field during Sri Lanka's nail-biting two-wicket triumph on Thursday.
To fill the void left by Theekshana's absence, Sahan Arachchige has been called up as his replacement for the highly anticipated final set to take place in Colombo on Sunday, where Sri Lanka will be striving to defend their title.
While Theekshana will miss this encounter, Professor Arjuna de Silva, the head of SLC's medical committee, expressed optimism about his readiness for the forthcoming 50-overs World Cup in India, commencing on October 5th. According to de Silva, the MRI scan showed a minor tear, and Theekshana is currently in stable clinical condition, demonstrating mobility and minimal discomfort.
Despite the desire to see Theekshana back on the field, the medical committee is prioritizing his recovery and has opted not to take unnecessary risks for the impending World Cup. Meanwhile, in a separate development, it has been reported that Washington Sundar is expected to join the Indian squad as a contingency measure for Axar Patel, who sustained an injury in a six-run loss to Bangladesh on Friday, as per information from the cricket website Cricbuzz. This addition aims to bolster the Indian team's depth and resilience as they approach this critical cricketing event
