Sri Lanka have suffered a major setback in the 2026 T20 World Cup with fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a muscle injury in the left leg.
Pathirana suffered the injury during Sri Lanka’s match against Australia in Pallekele on February 16. He bowled just four balls of his first over before walking off the field and did not return.
Despite his absence, Sri Lanka won that match by eight wickets. But the injury has now ended Pathirana’s season at a crucial stage of the tournament.
The ICC confirmed the change in the squad. “The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Dilshan Madushanka as Matheesha Pathirana’s replacement in the Sri Lankan squad.”
Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka comes as a replacement. He returns after dealing with his own injury problems earlier this year.
This is the second major injury for Sri Lanka in this tournament. Star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was previously ruled out of the opening match against Ireland due to a hamstring injury.
Pathirana was Sri Lanka’s premier death bowler. His pace and yorkers made him an important weapon in the final overs. Losing him will put extra pressure on the rest of the bowling unit.
Madushanka now has a big role to play. He has taken 15 wickets in T20Is so far, with an economy rate of 9.75. He also finished as Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup, picking up 21 wickets.
Sri Lanka has already qualified for the Super Eights. They will next face Zimbabwe in their final Group B match in Colombo.
They will then begin their Super Eights campaign against England in Pallekele on February 22. Madushanka’s left-arm angle and World Cup experience could be very important in that match.
With both Pathirana and Hasaranga out, Sri Lanka will need their bowlers to step up. The team has done well so far, but the real test now begins in the knockout stages.
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