Thisara Perera hit on the head during practice session ahead of the clash against Pakistan

Injuries and Sri Lanka have had their equal share of love throughout the year, with players getting injured at each and every go. Before the tournament, the participation of the key players such as Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga under scrutiny.

Sri Lankan all-rounder and one of the more experienced players in the squad Thisara Perera was hit on the head during the practice session ahead of the do-or-die encounter against Pakistan. However, there has been no serious injury to the right-handed all-rounder. The reports suggest that there has been tenderness in the area of impact, with the Sri Lankan medical team keeping him under medical observation.

“In a most fortunate turn of events, there has been no serious injury and although under careful observation there is currently no complaint related to head injury, with only reports of tenderness in the area of impact”, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Sri Lanka did not start the tournament the way they would have wanted to with a loss at the hands of the No.1 ODI side South Africa. The Sri Lankan players did not show the acumen required to cope up with the pressure of the South African batting. The Island nation took the field, without their skipper Angelo Mathews, who still was suffering from the hamstring injury.

All was not well after the win against India

However, Sri Lanka got off to a win in their second group game against India, where they battered and bruised the Indian bowling line-up. Bowling first against India, the Islanders could not pick their first wicket until the opening duo had mustered a 160 run partnership. The Indians failed to capitalise on the opening wicket partnership and got to a total of 300+ in their 50 overs.

In reply, the Sri Lankan team got off to the worst of starts, with a wicket in the first five years at 15/1. Post then the partnership between Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis which accounted for 159 runs gave the Lankans a sniff at victory. Just when things were looking great for the Lankan side, Kusal Perera got injured on the field leaving the skipper Mathews with the new man Asela Gunaratne.

Sri Lanka has already issued a statement ruling the left-hander, Kusal Perera out of the tournament naming Dhananjaya de Silva as his replacement. With Malinga, Mathews and Perera now under the observation, the Sri Lankan physio and team would have loads of work ahead of the crucial clash against Pakistan on Monday.