Sri Lanka lose captain Dasun Shanaka to thigh injury

Seamer Chamika Karunaratne has been called up in his place, six months on from his most recent appearance for the national side

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has been ruled out of the World Cup with a thigh injury.

Allrounder Shanaka suffered the issue in his country's defeat against Pakistan earlier in the week.

The blow is set to keep Shanaka out for at least three weeks, meaning that Chris Silverwood has opted to seek reinforcements.

Seamer Chamika Karunaratne has been called up in his place, six months on from his most recent appearance for the national side.

^{Chamika Karunaratne replaces Shanaka in Sri Lanka's squad (David Rowland/AFP via Getty Images)}

In-form batter Kusal Mendis is the current vice-captain so could be expected to replace Shanaka at the helm, with Sri Lanka still looking for their first win of the tournament after high-scoring defeats by Pakistan and South Africa.

Shanaka is far from the only World Cup captain struggling with their fitness: Kane Williamson fractured his thumb against Bangladesh and is likely only to return for the latter end of the competition, while Shakib Al Hasan suffered a thigh injury in the same game and went for a scan afterwards.

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