Kusal Perera ruled out of first two ODIs against Bangladesh due to injury

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera’s hamstring injury had ruled him out of the first two ODIs against Bangladesh, team manager Asanka Gurusinha confirmed on Thursday to ESPNCricinfo.  Perera, who was recalled to Sri Lanka’s ODI squad against Bangladesh, suffered the injury in his left thigh in his outing for Sri Lanka Board President’s XI the touring team in warm-up game. Perera was forced to retire hurt.

However, the team manager further described the strain as a “minor one”. But as a precautionary measure, the selectors preferred the batsman rests until the next two ODIs. He is expected to join the squad ahead of the third ODI on April 1 at the SSC in Colombo.

Perera was dropped from the tours of South Africa and Australia before making a comeback to the limited-overs squad against the West Indies. The wicket-keeper’s replacement is yet to be finalized but should be announced by Friday.

His return to the ODI side came after his good outing for Sri Lanka against the England Lions’ tour of the island country. He struck two fifties in the three games he played. The three-match ODI series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh starts on Saturday.

Before the ODI series, Sri Lanka succumbed to a humiliating defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. In fact, one of the Sri Lankan newspapers declared Sri Lankan team dead after that loss.

The paper carried a notice saying: “In affectionate remembrance of Sri Lankan cricket which died at the Oval on 19, March 2017.

“The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Bangladesh,” read the notice.

Bangladesh won the second Test against Sri Lanka by four wickets on Sunday to secure their first win over Sri Lanka in 18 attempts. Interestingly, Bangladesh’s win also coincided with the country’s 100th Test and aided the team draw a two-match series.