Dhammika Prasad out of England tour

Sri Lankan ace pace bowler, Dhammika Prasad, is unlikely to play any part in the ongoing tour of England owing to his shoulder strain.

According to the team manager of the Sri Lankan cricket team, Prasad has been sent home for further treatment as the tests carried out on him have been inconclusive. It has been nine days since he picked up the injury and the fast bowler is still unable to bowl in the nets.

“After yesterday’s fitness test, the management took a decision that he would be sent back for further treatment,” team manager Charith Senanayake said, according to ESPNCricinfo. “It’s the prevailing injury. He was to do another test today, but yesterday we tested him at training and he still couldn’t bowl.”

Dhammika Prasad is certain to miss the first two tests and is unlikely to play the third, which would rule him out of the entire tour, provided that he doesn’t make it to the squads for the shorter versions of the game.

Prasad had emerged to be the leading fast bowler in the test team and was the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in tests last year. The right arm fast bowler missed the tour of New Zealand too due to an injury and the spate of injuries which has raised its head again in his career might prove to be career-threatening. The 32-year -old’s career has been plagued by injuries since his debut and the current spree of injuries looks ominous as far as Prasad’s career is concerned.

Sri Lanka already has Suranga Lakmal in the squad but is likely to fly in either Kasun Rajitha or Vishwa Fernando as a replacement for Prasad.