A calf strain has put Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka's premier short-format quick, out of the Asia Cup. A member of the Sri Lanka team management told ESPNcricinfo that Chameera picked up the injury "three-or-four days ago" and will not recover in time for the Asia Cup.
A doctor working with the team confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Chameera's ankle injury, which has to do with his achilles tendon, has now moved up into the calf. While the injury has not been fully assessed yet, it is thought he can regain fitness in time for the T20 World Cup which begins mid-October.
On Saturday, Chameera had been named in Sri Lanka's 18-man squad for the Asia Cup despite not completing a full recovery from an ankle injury. At the time, it was understood that Chameera would be given as much time as possible to regain full match fitness. This will no longer be the case.
Right-armer Pramod Madushan, who had been part of the standby list when the squad was announced, has been added to the main squad as Chameera's replacement.
Chameera's absence will put additional pressure on an inexperienced Sri Lankan seam-bowling attack at the Asia Cup. Their fast-bowling contingent now has Dilshan Madushanka, Madushan, Asitha Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana - all uncapped in T20Is - with allrounders Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka as the other options. Binura Fernando and Kasun Rajitha are also unavailable because of injuries.
Their spin attack, however, wears a more potent look, with Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama and Jeffrey Vandersay in the mix. Still, Sri Lanka will need to find alternative options to deliver the new-ball and death overs Chameera frequently delivered.
Sri Lanka's campaign begins on August 27 against Afghanistan in Dubai.