Sri Lanka have been forced to make two changes for the third and final T20 International against England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today with fast bowler Eshan Malinga and leg-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga unavailable for selection.
Malinga dislocated his left shoulder while bowling during the England innings of the second T20I at Pallekele on Sunday and was helped off the field. His over was completed by Janith Liyanage.
A Sri Lanka Cricket media release states: ‘Fast bowler Eshan Malinga, who sustained an injury to his left shoulder, will not be available for selection for the third T20I against England. Malinga suffered a shoulder dislocation while bowling during the second T20I. He will return to Colombo today, where he will undergo an MRI scan to assess the extent of the injury and determine the next course of action.’
Hasaranga has a lump under his right arm pit that requires surgery to remove an abscess. He underwent surgery yesterday.
Malinga and Hasaranga will be replaced by Pramod Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana for today’s game. England leads the three-match series having taken a 2-0 lead by winning the second match by five wickets under the DLS method.
Meanwhile, fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera who was expected to play in today’s match after being rested for the first two will not be available for selection. As a precautionary measure he is being rested as his presence is vital to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup matches. Chameera is recovering from a hamstring niggle.
Also, Sri Lanka’s 15-member World Cup squad has undergone a late change with Dhananjaya de Silva being replaced by Kamindu Mendis. De Silva’s poor returns in the ODIs and the first T20I against England has forced the selectors’ hand to make the change.
The late change according to SLC has been communicated to the ICC although no official release has been made yet.
Kamindu joined the squad for the ongoing England series on Sunday, but his inclusion for today’s match is debatable as Charith Asalanka who has been out of sorts with his batting showed signs of coming good in the second T20I.
Depending on the extent of Malinga’s injury, Sri Lanka may have to find a replacement for him as well in the T20 World Cup squad of which he is a member.
Ticket counters for ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 open from today
Sri Lanka ticket counters
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Headquarters – All DaysOpening Date: 3 February
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS), Colombo – Gate 1Opening Date: 4 February (Open only on non-match days)
Orugodawatta ticket counter: Open only on RPICS match days
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (PICS), Kandy – Gate 5Opening Date: 7 February (Open only on Non-Match Days)
Abitha Ground, Balagolla: Open only on Pallekele match days
Counter opening times
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ticket limits per person
A maximum of 4 tickets per person for Sri Lanka matches either online or at the physical counters.
For non-Sri Lanka matches, a maximum of 10 tickets per person either online or at the physical counters.
Ticket prices: Ranges from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 10,000.