Sri Lanka has already secured the final by winning two matches in the Super Four. The two finalists will take the field in the title-deciding match later in the night. But the Lankans got bad news before that. Mahesh Thiksena, one of the best bowlers of the team, cannot play in the final due to injury.
Pakistan faced Sri Lanka in their last match of the Super Four. The Lankans secured the final by defeating the Paks. But Thieksena was injured in that match. But the injury is not serious.
Sri Lanka does not want to take any risk with Thiksena, one of the best spinners of all time, just before the World Cup. Therefore, despite the final, Sri Lanka team is not fielding him in the match against India. Recently, the Lankan team leader Dasun Shanaka made such comments about Thiksena.
It should be noted that Mahesh Thiksena played five matches in Sri Lanka’s jersey in the current Asia Cup. He took eight wickets at an average of 29 runs.
(September 16/MM)