Pathum Nissanka out of second Test with back injury

Pathum Nissanka has been ruled out of the second Test against India, starting Saturday in Bengaluru, because of a back injury. Dushmantha Chameera, who sat out the first Test in Mohali, is also not available for selection as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

Dimuth Karunaratne, the Sri Lanka captain, said on the eve of the pink-ball Test that Chameera's workload was being managed till the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled for October this year, and that the quick would be available only for limited-overs games in the interim period after his recovery.

Chameera is also expected to be at the IPL, which starts March 26, where Lucknow Super Giants have him on their rolls after shelling out INR 2 crore [USD 261,640 approx.] for his services at the mega auction last month.

"The [Sri Lanka team] medical panel has told us that we have to manage his injury till the T20 World Cup, and that he should be used (only) for white-ball cricket," Karunaratne said.

Karunaratne had earlier hoped to have Chameera in his side for the second Test, having rested him for the first game specifically so he would be fresh for the Bengaluru match, which is to be played under lights. Chameera had played in all eight T20 internationals Sri Lanka have played since mid-February (five in Australia, three in India), and is considered a vital part of the limited-overs attack.

Nissanka's absence would hurt Sri Lanka, as he was one of the few positives for them in what was a heavy defeat, having top-scored for Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 61 in the first innings. Though still early in his career, he's also one of the few Sri Lanka batters with an average north of 40.

With Lahiru Kumara also out of this Test with injury, Sri Lanka may look at playing Chamika Karunaratne, the only other quick in the squad. On the batting front, Dinesh Chandimal will likely come into the XI in place of Nissanka.