Sri Lankan youngster Pathum Nissanka stretchered off after getting hit on the head

After the five-match ODI series and the only T20I in Colombo, England are currently playing a two-day practice match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo. They will play another two-day match prior to the red-ball fixtures. The three-match Test series gets underway on November 6 at Galle International Stadium.

Pallekele and Colombo are the venues for the remaining encounters. In the meantime, a horrific incident panned out in the second day of the warm-up encounter. Play was stopped when a ferocious pull shot from English right-handed batsman Jos Buttler off tweaker Nishan Pieris hit 20-year-old youngster Pathum Nissanka, who was fielding at short leg, flush on the head.

Another horrific injury in Lanka

He fell to the ground owing to the blow and cricketers from both the teams called for immediate help. Three England staff – doctor Moiz Moghal, physio Craig de Weymarn and massage therapist Mark Saxby- rushed on to the park along with the Sri Lankan doctor as per reports in www.dailymail.co.uk.

The player was thereafter given 15 minutes of treatment. He was eventually stretchered off the park and the umpires called for an early before the extent of Nissanka’s injury was confirmed. An ambulance took the player from the venue to a local hospital.

Nissanka has quite a few amounts of experience at the domestic level. The Galle-born cricketer has played 14 first-class, 10 List A and 5 T20s in which he has racked up 1169, 247 and 58 runs respectively. His top-score of 188 not out for Colombo came against Galle earlier this year in April at Hambantota.

He also has represented his country in U19 cricket. In the ongoing match, he scored 29 from 44 balls in the first innings after which he was trapped plumb in front by Joe Denly. For the time being, the entire cricketing fraternity would be hoping for the cricketer’s well-being.

Here are a few pictures

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