Colombo, Feb 18 (UNI) Sri Lanka have been dealt a massive blow with news that key pacer Matheesha Pathirana will miss the remainder of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to injury.
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Dilshan Madushanka as a replacement for Matheesha Pathirana in the Sri Lanka squad.
Madushanka was named as a replacement when Pathirana was ruled out after sustaining a muscle strain in his left leg during the team’s previous match against Australia on February 16.
The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.
The Event Technical committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 consists of Wasim Khan (Chair, ICC General Manager – Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events & Corporate Communications, IBC representative), Hemang Amin (Tournament Director, host representative) and Shaun Pollock (Independent nominee).
The loss of Pathirana will further cripple Sri Lanka’s bowling stocks, with the team already missing key all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.
Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe in their final group-stage game of the ongoing T20 World Cup on Thursday in Colombo.
