Key points
- Madushanka approved as tournament replacement
- Injury occurred against Australia in Pallekele
- Sri Lanka suffer second major injury blow
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka have been dealt another serious blow in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, with fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana ruled out of the rest of the tournament after suffering an injury.
Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka has been confirmed as his replacement, with the change approved by the ICC Event Technical Committee.
Pathirana picked up the injury during Sri Lanka’s Group B match against Australia in Pallekele on Monday. The right-arm quick appeared in discomfort just four balls into his opening over, clutching his left leg before limping off the field. He was unable to return, although Sri Lanka went on to claim an emphatic eight-wicket win.
The ICC later announced that Pathirana had sustained a muscle strain in his left leg, forcing him out of the competition with immediate effect.
Second major injury setback
It is the second major injury setback for Sri Lanka in the tournament, following the earlier loss of wrist-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury during the opening match against Ireland.
Madushanka last played international cricket in Sri Lanka’s ODI series against Zimbabwe in August 2025. He has also struggled with injuries but recently featured in a warm-up match for Sri Lanka A against Oman earlier this month, bowling three overs without taking a wicket.
The 24-year-old has appeared in 15 T20Is, taking 15 wickets at an economy rate of 9.75. His standout performance came at the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps at an average of 25.00.
Sri Lanka will next meet Zimbabwe in Colombo in their final Group B fixture before beginning their Super Eights campaign against England in Pallekele on February 22.
