IPL bonus for Pathirana through a Sri Lanka national team call-up

It seems as if the recently concluded IPL 2023 has been a big bonus for Matheshaa Pathirana, the young 20-year-old Sri Lankan paceman with the Malinga-style action.

In fact, due to his unusual bowling action, he has been nicknamed ”Baby Malinga” and earned himself a place in the Sri Lankan one-day squad for the 3-match series against Afghanistan. Currently, he finds himself a place in the squad in the first 2 ODIs wherein he should be shouldering the pace  attack responsibility with Dushmantha Chameera, who is back after a longish lay off due to injury.

Sri Lanka have gone in with a blend of youth and experience in naming the squad as they have recalled Dimuth Karunaratne who last appeared for the islanders in the 50-over format in 2021. But they have had to keep Kusal Perera out as he is nursing a hamstring injury. His place is given back to Sadeera Samarawickrama, who has been reinstated after a gap of nearly 4 years.

Dasun Shanaka will be the leader of the Sri Lankan team for this series in which the opening match will be played on 2nd June in Hambantota. This series is expected to be the perfect dress rehearsal for the Sri Lankans for the one-day World cup qualifiers for which they will be heading to Zimbabwe after this.

So it remains to be seen whether Matheesha Pathirana and his bowling will set the cricketing world on fire!

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