Sri Lanka were dealt with a significant injury blow ahead of their Test tour of Pakistan when Suranga Lakmal fell victim to a bout of dengue fever. The right-arm paceman was then replaced with uncapped Asitha Fernando, who joins the squad for the second Test.
The tourists, however, have now seen another one of their pacers rendered unavailable for the contest with Kasun Rajitha contracting a hamstring strain. Rajitha bowled a handful of overs in the historic Rawalpindi Test but had to soon withdraw from the field owing to a problem in his hamstring.
It has now been confirmed he will not participate in the next Test scheduled to be held in Karachi. It is unlikely that Sri Lanka will fly in any replacement for Rajitha given that the match will commence on December 19. The slow surface in Karachi’s National Stadium might also convince the selectors to go with an additional spinner in the lineup.