Udana virtually out of third T20

Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga said on Tuesday that he missed “main bowler” Isuru Udana who got injured during warm-up just before Sri Lanka went out to defend 143 in the second T20I against India on Tuesday.

“He’s (Udana) our main bowler and is very experienced in this format. He got injured just before we went out to bowl. He’s recovering now. We also need to give opportunities to the youngsters,” said Malinga at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Head coach Mickey Arthur has indicated that Udana is unlikely to feature in the third and final T20 International against Indiain Pune on Friday after sustaining a back injury during a warm-up session.

“Look, I’m no doctor. He was in a hell of a lot of pain in the dressing room. What the diagnosis is I honestly don’t know. I just hope we can get him back for the West Indies series,” Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur said. With Sri Lanka having a packed calendar, Arthur doesn’t want to risk Udana, who has been one of Sri Lanka’s best T20 bowlers in recent times.

“We’ve got so much cricket… the middle of February. I even think that could be a push. So, yeah, I just hope the best for him. It’s something in the back,” added the South African, who was appointed Sri Lanka’s head coach last month. Sri Lanka did not pick the experienced Angelo Mathews for the second game in a row. Mathews has made a T20 comeback after 16 months. Asked if he could play the final game in Pune, Arthur said: “After the batting performance, everybody has a chance of playing. “