Wanindu Hasaranga is most likely to miss the upcoming Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, getting underway on October 5 in India, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) medical panel chief Arjuna de Silva has expressed.
The star cricketer is still recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered during the Lanka Premier League’s (LPL) playoffs last month which also ruled him out of Sri Lanka’s recent Asia Cup campaign.
The 26-year-old is facing a significant setback due to a grade three hamstring tear which has put a big question mark over his participation in the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023.
The severity of the injury has led to speculation that Hasaranga may undergo surgery, which could further put him out of action for at least a period of three months.
However, the SLC is hopeful of his participation in the showpiece event and is looking for every possible way to bring him in action at the showpiece event. As per reports, the SLC is in consultation with foreign doctors to determine whether a surgery is necessary and are considering every other options to utilize his valuable services in the World Cup.
Despite this, SLC medical panel head Arjuna de Silva has stated that it is most unlikely that Hasaranga will be able to participate in the World Cup.
“We are consulting foreign doctors to see whether he needs surgery or not,” SLC medical panel chief Arjuna de Silva told the Sunday Times newspaper.
“If he does, he will be out for at least three months. At the moment, the situation is not that great and it’s highly unlikely if he can play the World Cup,” he added.
De Silva further expressed that the SLC is trying their best to get Hasaranga ready in time for the showpiece tournament but also admitted that it would ultimately depend on the opinions of the consultant.
“Since he is a key weapon in our attack, we are looking at other options to see how best we can get his services at least for important games. All that depends on the opinions of the consultant to whom we are trying to show his reports,” added De Silva.
Notably, only the islanders Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the two teams who are yet to name their final squad for the Men’s ODI World Cup. The two sides still have a time until Thursday (September 28) as it is the deadline for all the ten participating teams to submit their final 15-member squad to the ICC for the tournament.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 World champions and the runners-up in 2007 and 2011 editions, will begin their 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup campaign against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on October 7.