Thisara Perera replaces Dhammika Prasad in ODI side

Dhammika Prasad, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, has been ruled out of the limited-overs series against Pakistan in the UAE due to an injury he sustained during the third Test in Sharjah. Prasad pulled his quad muscle and bowled just four overs in the game. He's been replaced by the allrounder Thisara Perera, who played in the World Cup final, and toured England earlier this year.

The Sri Lankan team was criticised for its fitness standards by its chief selector Duleep Mendis, since there have been several players who've missed out on matches due to injuries. "See the number of players who are injured? Dammika Prasad is unable to play in two consecutive Test matches without breaking down. Yesterday (third day) he did not bowl and we were down to four bowlers," Mendis had said. "Thankfully we played five bowlers in the Test. Apart from Prasad there is Nuwan Kulasekara, Shaminda Eranga, Ajantha Mendis and Prasanna Jayawardene all on the injury list. I don't know what our physios and masseurs are doing with the players for them to get constantly injured."

The teams play five ODIs and one Twenty20 game after the Test series.