Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga will miss the final T20I against England after suffering a dislocated shoulder during the previous match. The 24-year-old seamer faces a race against time to recover for the upcoming World Cup following the injury sustained in a match against England in Pallekele.
Malinga’s injury occurred in an unusual manner during the eighth over of England’s run chase after a rain delay. While bowling, he seemed to injure his left shoulder and had to leave the field. An MRI scan will determine the extent of the injury and the next steps for his recovery.
The young bowler’s absence leaves Sri Lanka with a gap in their squad for the third T20I, with Pramod Madushan likely to step in as the replacement. Malinga’s impressive performance in recent T20I matches has raised concerns about his availability for the World Cup, adding complexity to Sri Lanka’s selection decisions.
Sri Lanka is yet to finalize their World Cup squad, and any changes post the submission deadline would need ICC approval. The team has other pace-bowling options like Nuwan Thushara and Pramod Madushan to consider, with decisions on squad composition pending for the upcoming tournament.
