World Cup: Chameera approved as replacement for Kumara in Sri Lanka squad

The 31-year-old Chameera, a veteran of 44 one-day internationals, was selected after Kumara was sidelined by a left thigh muscle injury sustained during training in Pune, where Sri Lanka play Afghanistan on Monday.

Kumara took 3-35 in Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket thrashing of defending champions England in Bengaluru on Thursday.

That success was one of just two victories 1996 World Cup winners Sri Lanka have managed in their opening five games of this edition.

They are, however, currently fifth in the ICC World Cup 2023 points table and still in with a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

Chameera becomes Sri Lanka’s third injury replacement at the World Cup after Chamika Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews.

Last week, former skipper Angelo Mathews was called into the Sri Lanka squad to replace injured fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

Meanwhile, Chamika Karunaratne replaced the regular captain Dasun Shanaka, after he suffered a quad injury.

Sri Lanka are slated to face Afghanistan tomorrow in Pune, with both teams having the same points, however, Afghanistan is placed at the seventh position in the points table due to a lower net run rate.