by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka suffered a huge blow ahead of the three match ODI series against Bangladesh that gets underway today after fast bowler Asitha Fernando had to withdraw with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old right arm fast bowler has had an impressive start to his brief international career and he picked up the injury during the domestic one-day competition – National Super League (NSL). He did not travel to Bangladesh.

While Asitha had been primarily used for Test match cricket, he did make a comeback to the limited overs side during the recent Afghanistan series. His presence will be badly missed during the two match Test series that follows the three ODIs.

While Asitha is extremely effective with the new ball it is when the ball gets older and the pitch gets flatter that captains have really started appreciating his presence. He reverse swings the older ball to deadly effect and then uses the short ball cleverly to unsettle the batters.

Last time Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh, in May 2022, the second Test was heading for a draw. But captain Dimuth Karunaratne handed the old ball to Asitha and he ripped through the line-up finishing with career best figures of six for 51. The last five wickets fell for just 13 runs as there was a dramatic collapse. Asitha finished with a match bag of ten for 144.

Sri Lanka won the second Test by ten wickets and wrapped up the two-match series 1-0.

In Asitha’s absence, Lahiru Kumara is expected to replace him. Kumara is the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka but has been injury prone and has let the side down on multiple occasions having walked off the field in middle of a game.

Kumara was a late replacement during the last year’s World Cup in India but featured in just two games before being injured again. He hasn’t played a game for Sri Lanka since then.

Kumara’s poor fitness standards is said to be the main reason for him being injured so frequently. It is said the new selectors are addressing the issue having given him a final warning. The player is on a short leash with constant monitoring of his skin fold levels.

Prolific opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, who missed the T-20 series with a hamstring injury is expected to make a comeback during the ODI leg of the tour. However, he has been overlooked for the Test series. The batsman has a chronic back injury and the selectors seem to be focusing totally on the upcoming World Cup and will only consider Nissanka for Tests after the sport’s showpiece event in Caribbean and United States in June.

Sri Lanka will play three Tests in England in August.

The three match ODI series gets underway today in Chittagong. The Tests will start later this month.