Lucknow Super Giants have accepted that Wanindu Hasaranga will not play any part in this year’s IPL and expect to confirm a replacement inside the next couple of days.
“We are preparing for the fact that he isn’t going to be able to join us,” director of cricket Tom Moody remarked on Thursday evening while the side were facing Kolkata Knight Riders. “We are looking at replacements, that should be announced in 24-48 hours.”
ESPNcricinfo understands South Africa’s left-arm spinner George Linde, yet to feature in the tournament, heads the shortlist. Paperwork is thought to be straightforward, so the franchise is confident of moving quickly.
Hasaranga last bowled competitively in Sri Lanka’s opening T20 World Cup fixture in February, when a torn left hamstring forced him off the field. Since then he has not taken Sri Lanka Cricket’s mandatory fitness tests, a prerequisite for an NOC. LSG paid INR 2 crore (about £190,000) for the leg-spinner at December’s auction, a gamble that now looks unfortunate rather than reckless.
Even without him, LSG’s attack has ticked along nicely. Digvesh Rathi, M Siddharth and Shahbaz Ahmed have shared the bulk of the middle-overs work, each keeping things tidy enough to give the quicks a breather. Mohsin Khan, who looked sharp in the opening match, has sat out since with what Moody called “stiffness”, though the camp is relaxed about his recovery.
Linde’s recent numbers are solid rather than spectacular: one wicket in four T20 internationals on the recent New Zealand tour, and an overall T20 economy of 7.42 across 250 matches. Coaches like the fact he bats usefully down the order and fields with purpose—attributes that matter during a two-month grind. He has done the rounds too: SA20, the Hundred, MLC, PSL, you name it, so the dressing-room dynamic should not faze him.
LSG have a modest gap between fixtures, handy for paperwork and travel. If the deal is inked on time, Linde could be available for the next home game—subject, of course, to the inevitable last-minute clearances that accompany modern franchise cricket.
Nothing is official yet, but the Super Giants want clarity sooner rather than later. For Hasaranga, focus now shifts to rehabilitation back in Colombo; for Linde, a first IPL cap is suddenly within touching distance.
