KJP not out of World Cup Qualifiers

by Rex Clementine

Despite being not named in the Sri Lanka squad for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan that gets underway later this week, hard-hitting batsman Kusal Janith Perera has not been ruled out of the World Cup Qualifiers next month in Zimbabwe.

KJP is nursing a shoulder niggle that he picked up in New Zealand and was expected to be named in the squad for the Afghanistan series, but the selectors had decided to give him complete rest fearing he might aggravate the injury.

KJP has been batting in the nets but has been kept out of fielding drills and was left out of the Afghanistan series as a precaution.

KJP missed out on 18 months of cricket as he underwent shoulder surgery. Although he returned to international cricket in New Zealand two months ago, he only featured in the T-20 series.

KJP’s explosive batting will be vital for Sri Lanka during the World Cup Qualifiers. Teams need to submit their squads only before the 10th of June and by then Sri Lanka will have a fair idea about the composition of the squad with the ODI series against Afghanistan completed.

Sri Lanka failed to qualify directly for the sport’s showpiece event later this year – the ICC Cricket World Cup in India and were forced to play the qualifiers.

While the teams have started training at Suriyawewa ahead of the first ODI on Friday, all players who featured in the IPL will return by today (Wednesday). Captain Dasun Shanaka was expected to reach the team hotel yesterday while Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana, the two players who represented champions Chennai Super Kings will reach today.

The Afghanistan series wasn’t part of Sri Lanka’s schedule, but it was arranged to serve as preparation for the qualifiers.

Suriyawewa hasn’t hosted an international game in three years now and a full house is expected at the 35,000-capacity stadium.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka were involved in a three-match series last November at Pallekele and the series ended in a 1-1 draw with one game being washed out. Afghanistan gained automatic qualification during this series.