Pathum Nissanka set to miss Bangladesh T-20s

by Rex Clementine

It’s been a brilliant start for Pathum Nissanka this year as the opening batter has put bowlers to the sword giving captains headaches and, in the process, breaking batting records. Nissanka in the recent ODI series against Afghanistan broke Sanath Jayasuriya’s long-standing record for most runs in an ODI innings.

That innings produced 210 runs not out, the first double hundred by a Sri Lankan in limited overs cricket. He wasn’t done yet, he scored another match wining hundred in the third ODI to help Sri Lanka sweep the series. In the process, he went onto become the fastest Sri Lankan to score 2000 runs in ODIs.

There have been accolades from all and sundry with Jayasuriya hailing the fearless brand of cricket that Nissanka displayed. Team mate Charith Asalanka said that he loved to just sit and watch Nissanka bat while Head Coach Chris Silverwood predicted a bright future for the 25-year-old.

In the third T-20 International against the Afghans at Dambulla, Nissanka smashed 60 off 30 balls and victory was within Sri Lanka’s reach as long as he was out in the middle. However, the batter was forced to retire with a hamstring niggle. He could have hung around for a bit longer in helping the team to get closer to the target but Silverwood wanted him to retire immediately. Makes sense as Sri Lanka had already bagged the series and had he aggravated the injury, it could have been a heavy blow with a big season ahead.

The severity of Nissanka’s injury has not been assessed yet but initial reports are that he has been recommended two weeks of rest. That means the prolific opening batter will miss the three match T-20 series in Bangladesh that gets underway next week.

The team will miss Nissanka’s services top of the order as his positive approach with field restrictions on has given Sri Lanka terrific starts. It remains to be seen which player the selectors will bring in place of Nissanka. Shevon Daniel and Avishka Fernando are top contenders for the opening slot with the latter preferred as the former is going through a bad patch in domestic cricket.

A few other slots are also up for grabs. Both Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Perera flopped during the Afghanistan series. Whether the selectors will persevere with them or make a change is one of the calls that everyone is waiting on.

Akila Dananjaya has been back in the reckoning in white ball cricket but remains a liability on the field and so is Nuwan Thushara. The team has been emphasizing a lot on fielding these days and they have a few serious questions to answer moving forward.

Sri Lanka also will be without their captain Wanindu Hasaranga for the first two games as he has been suspended by the ICC for his altercation with match officials during the third T-20 International against Afghanistan.