Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a calf strain, dealing a huge blow to Sri Lanka ahead of the Super 8 stage. Batting coach Vikram Rathour confirmed the development regarding Pathirana while speaking to reporters ahead of Sri Lanka’s final group game against Zimbabwe on February 19 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
“I believe he has been declared ineligible for the rest of the tournament. If it hasn’t been officially announced yet, I expect that update to be issued soon,” Rathour said at the pre-match press conference.
Pathirana limped off just four balls into his spell against Australia after suffering a suspected calf strain. He fell to the ground clutching his left leg immediately after bowling the fourth ball of his opening match during Sri Lanka’s encounter against Australia in Pallekele.
A physiotherapist ran onto the pitch and Pathirana subsequently received an assist from the ground. It was Dasun Shanaka who completed the remaining two deliveries of the over. Meanwhile, Pathirana did not return for the rest of the innings, raising immediate concerns about the severity of the injury.
Rathour said that Sri Lanka are yet to finalize a replacement for the pacer for the rest of the tournament.
“Regarding the compensation, negotiations are still ongoing and no final decision has been confirmed yet,” Rathour added.
WILL MATHEESHA PATHIRANA PLAY IN IPL?
Matheesha Pathirana will miss the T20 World Cup due to injury, but there is no doubt about his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yet. The Sri Lankan fast bowler was bought for Rs 18 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an auction held last December.
Sri Lanka impressed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 by winning all three of their group stage matches to advance to the Super 8. They beat Ireland by 20 runs and then chased down 182 against Australia by eight wickets. Pathum Nissanka scores an unbeaten century seal the qualification. Their flawless run has positioned them as one of the strongest contenders heading into the next stage of the tournament.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 18, 2026