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There was good news for Sri Lanka as the injured trio of Kusal Perera, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Pradeep returned to competitive cricket over the weekend, but the authorities are still waiting to hear on the fitness of captain Angelo Mathews.
All four players sustained injuries during the recently concluded tour of Bangladesh and weren't available for the two match T20I series. Sri Lanka's domestic T20 tournament got underway on Saturday, and Perera, Chameera and Pradeep represented their respective clubs. However, Mathews, who played just one game in Bangladesh before returning home having hurt his right hamstring wasn't available to represent Colts Cricket Club.
The fitness of all four players will be assessed on Tuesday. While the selectors are happy with the effort put in by the three players who featured in domestic cricket, they are hopeful that Mathews too will be declared fit.
Sri Lanka have already lost the services of fast bowler Shehan Madushanka and all-rounder Asela Gunaratne. While Madushanka picked up a hamstring injury during the T20I series in Bangladesh, Gunaratne returned home having hurt his right shoulder during training ahead of the series.
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga is also keen to make a comeback and turned up for Nondescripts Cricket Club in both their games over the weekend. He picked up two for 30 against Kalutara Town Club on Saturday and then took three for 31 on Sunday against Police as NCC won both games. NCC stalwarts Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga were all in good nick.
Malinga last played for Sri Lanka in September 2017 and was overlooked for the tours of UAE, India and Bangladesh. The fast bowler, who made a comeback in last June after recovering from a knee injury, has struggled with his form and fitness.
SLC sources said that whether Malinga would fit into the system solely depended in the hands of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. The fact that both Pradeep and Chameera have regained fitness is unlikely to work in favour of Malinga.
The tri-nation T20I series involving India and Bangladesh gets underway on March 6 at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium. India have rested captain Virat Kohli and will be led by Rohit Sharma. Sri Lanka will take on India in the curtain raiser. The final of the tournament will take place on the 18th March.
Ahead of the tournament, Sri Lanka will conduct a week long training camp in Colombo starting on Wednesday.
(CRICBUZZ)
