Atapattu ruled out of entire series
Sri Lanka suffered a major setback when Marvan Atapattu was ruled out of the ongoing one-dayers as well as the upcoming Tests against Pakistan
AFP
18-Mar-2006
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Injury-hit Sri Lanka suffered a major setback on Saturday when Marvan Atapattu, the captain, was ruled out of the ongoing one-dayers as well as the upcoming Tests against Pakistan.
"Marvan aggravated the injury while fielding in the first match on Friday and the medical staff have advised us to rest him for the one-dayers as well as the Tests," Lalith Kaluperuma, Sri Lanka's chief selector, told AFP. Atapattu's back injury added to Sri Lanka's woes as Sanath Jayasuriya (thigh), Chaminda Vaas (side strain) and Ruchira Perera (hamstring) are already nursing injuries.
Atapattu, who sustained the injury during the tour of Australia in January, aggravated it on Friday. Recurring back problems have frequently kept him on the injured list of late.
The selectors will not name a replacement for Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene, the vice-captain, will lead the side.
The remaining one-dayers will be played on Sunday and Wednesday with provisions for reserve days after the opening match was abandoned due to rain. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be happy for the extra days as neither is an automatic qualifier for the Champions Trophy yet. Both teams desperately need wins under the belt, and rained-out matches will not help anyone's cause. They will be followed by two Tests in Colombo and Kandy.