Sri Lanka rest Rangana Herath for remaining ODIs

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will be substituted by Sajeewa Weerakoon, a left-arm spinner making his ODI debut at the age of 34. © Getty Images

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

 

By CricketCountry Staff

 

Colombo: Jun 12, 2012

 

Sri Lanka have decided to rest the injured left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for the remaining One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Pakistan.

 

Herath, nursing a knee injury struggling while fielding during a fitness test, revealed the Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene in après conference.

 

The spinner was spotted struggling during the first two ODI matches of the ODI series.

 

“Both his knees were operated soon after the England series. He played for Sri Lanka almost after a rest of one month and he was fine with his bowling. But he was not comfortable while fielding,” said Jayawardene.

 

Herath will be substituted by Sajeewa Weerakoon, a left-arm spinner making his ODI debut at the age of 34.

 

The ODI series is well-balanced after Sri Lanka’s series leveling win on Saturday.

 

Jayawardene was quoted by Sunday Times as saying, “The selectors and medical staff then decided to rest him from the remaining three ODI games as a precaution. He will be rested for at least a week before the Test series begins where we will need his services.

 

“Rangana has been our main spinner for quite a while now and we strongly feel that he needs some rest at present.”

 

The first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be played at Galle from June 22 to 26.