Sri Lanka to send replacement covers for injured players

Sri Lanka will be sending middle order batsman Kithuruwan Vithanage and spinner Tharindu Kaushal as cover for the injured players ahead of the team's final round robin World Cup game against Scotland, scheduled to be played on March 11.

With the addition of these two players now, the Sri Lankan team has affected five changes to its original World Cup squad.

Earlier, opening batsman Upul Tharanga replaced fellow left handed opener Dimuth Karunaratne, while another opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera was sent as cover for injured Rangana Herath.

Sri Lankan selectors said that Janith Perera would now take the place of the injured middle order batsman Dinesh Chandimal.

Chandimal, after a heroic knock of 52 in Sunday's loss against Australia, has been ruled out for the next 4-6 weeks, having suffered a hamstring injury during the course of his innings.

The 24-year-old left hander Vithanage has played six ODIs, while the 22-year-old right arm off spinner Kaushal is yet to make an ODI appearance. He made his debut in the longest version of the game in the recent Test series against New Zealand in January.

Image: Kithuruwan Vithanage

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images