Sri Lanka announce 15-member squad for ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023

A big blow to Sri Lanka's World Cup hopes as they will be without the services of their top spinner for the entirety of the tournament.

Sri Lanka announced their 15-member squad on Tuesday, 26 September, just two days before ICC's cut-off date and will be without the services of their star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

Hasaranga has been ruled out of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with an injury – a grade three hamstring tear.

The leg-spinner sustained a thigh strain during last month's playoffs of the Lankan Premier League, where he concluded the tournament as the top run-scorer with 279 runs and the leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets. The injury subsequently ruled the spinner out of the Asia Cup.

Earlier SLC had given a statement of doing all that they possibly can to ensure Hasaranga's participation. However, they had also expressed that possibility of Hasaranga missing out on cricket for at least three months if he needed surgery.

Hasaranga was a vital component during the World Cup Qualifiers held in June and July, where Sri Lanka emerged victorious, securing their spot in the main event in India. He topped the tournament's wicket-takers chart with an impressive 22 wickets in just seven games.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (vc), Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

Travelling reserve: Chamika Karunaratne

Sri Lanka will play two warm-up games ahead of the World Cup against Bangladesh on 29 September and Afghanistan on 2 October. They will play their tournament opener on 7 October against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.