Sri Lanka include Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara in T20 World Cup squad despite fitness concerns

The pair have been included in the group after missing the Asia Cup with respective calf and hamstring injuries. Dinesh Chandimal is among a five-strong reserve list

The Cricketer | 16/09/2022 at 16:18

Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara have been named in Sri Lanka men's T20 World Cup squad but must prove their fitness before the tournament in Australia.

Both players missed the Asia Cup success in the United Arab Emirates, where they stunned Pakistan in the final.

Chameera was absent due to an ankle injury which spread to his calf, while Kumara has a hamstring problem.

Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrema (both of whom will travel to Australia), Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwanidu Fernando drop out of the squad and into the reserve list, where they are joined by Binura Fernando who missed the Asia Cup through injury.

The squad will convene at Pallekele on September 25 for a training camp where Chameera and Kumara's physical well-being will be scrutinised.

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^{Lahiru Kumara is nursing a hamstring problem (WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)}

Sri Lanka have two warm-up matches before the tournament, against Zimbabwe and Ireland on October 10 and 13, which begins against Namibia on October 16 in Geelong.

Similar to last year, the 2014 champions must go through a preliminary stage to progress to the Super 12. Alongside Namibia, they have been drawn in Group A with Netherlands and UAE, with the top two progressing.

Sri Lanka T20 World Cup squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan

Reserves: Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dinesh Chandimal, Binura Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando