Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is likely to miss the team’s ICC Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on Saturday with a calf injury, the cricket board has said.
A nagging hamstring problem has kept Mathews out of international cricket since January but the all-rounder, who turns 30 on Friday, was declared fit ahead of the team’s departure to the United Kingdom.
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“Mathews... had complained of stiffness and pain, prompting the Team management to conduct radiographic investigations which revealed a strain on the muscle,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.
“Mathews will engage in supervised recovery over the next few days but will most likely sit out the first group stage match against South Africa,” it added.
{{/usCountry}}“Mathews will engage in supervised recovery over the next few days but will most likely sit out the first group stage match against South Africa,” it added.
{{/usCountry}}Upul Tharanga, likely to lead the team in Mathews’ absence, made 95 in last Friday’s warm-up match against Australia but skipped the second practice match against New Zealand.
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Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group B of the eight-team tournament, which also includes India and Pakistan.