Sri Lanka’s plans for the World Cup copped an early blow on Monday when Matheesha Pathirana limped off after only four balls of his first over against Australia. The 23-year-old fast bowler fell to the turf clutching his left calf, received on-field treatment from the physio, then hobbled to the dressing-room with help from two support staff. He did not reappear for the rest of Australia’s chase.
Team officials later issued a short update: “Matheesha Pathirana experienced discomfort in his left leg calf while bowling during the match and was unable to continue. He will not bowl further in this game. A scan will be conducted tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury.”
Before breaking down, Pathirana had begun tidily enough, conceding three runs – one of them a wide – and sending down two dots. Stand-in skipper Dasun Shanaka completed the over, leaking a boundary but finishing with a dot ball. From there Sri Lanka’s attack was one seamer light, a gap that told in the closing stages when Australia cruised home with overs to spare.
Pathirana’s raw pace – he is comfortably the quickest option in the squad – has become central to Sri Lanka’s death-overs plan. Losing him now, especially with leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga already ruled out of the tournament by a hamstring strain, would leave the bowling unit looking thin. Veteran analyst Farveez Maharoof noted on local radio that the side “can’t really replace 145-kph thunderbolts at the back end”.
The camp expect scan results inside 24 hours. “If it’s a minor strain he might be managed for a week and still play,” former team doctor Daminda Attanayake said. “A tear, even a small one, is usually ten to 14 days minimum.” Sri Lanka’s final group fixture comes against Zimbabwe on Friday; they must win to have any chance of reaching the Super Eights.
For now the mood in the dressing-room is one of cautious hope rather than panic. Yet Pathirana’s early exit offered an unwelcome reminder of how quickly a campaign can unravel.
