Asia Cup: Eranga replaces Matthews in Sri Lanka squad

Sri Lanka suffered a major setback Wednesday after star all-rounder Angelo Mathews Wednesday ruled out of the ongoing Asia Cup with a calf injury. He has been replaced with fast bowling all-rounder Shaminda Eranga.

“The last couple of days Angelo has had some fitness tests, he hasn’t pulled through those well, so we made a call to send him back home. He will try to get ready for the Test matches (against England) that starts in about 10 days. The selectors will decide (on his replacement),” said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s chief selector Ashantha de Mel said that Eranga was picked to boost the team’s fast bowling department since Lasith Malinga also looked uncertain.

“Lasith Malinga is nursing a groin strain and he was left out of the first match against India,” de Mel said.

Eranga was named in Sri Lanka’s Test squad to play Pakistan in the UAE last year but had to withdraw with a shoulder injury.

“He (Eranga) will most probably play in tomorrow’s game against Pakistan. We thought Eranga, who has recovered from his shoulder injury, would be useful because he can bat as well,” he added.

Jayawardene said the team would take a call on Malinga’s availability Thursday morning.

“Malinga played through injury in the final two matches of the CB series, so we decided to give him a break yesterday (against India),” Jayawardene said.