Though named in the squad, Wanindu Hasaranga will not travel with the team on Tuesday (26) to India, Chief Selector Pramodya Wickremasinghe told the Sunday Times Newspaper.

Meanwhile, Prof. Arjuna de Silva, Head of the Sri Lanka Cricket Medical Panel, said, however, that “the chances are very remote” of Wanindu Hasaranga playing in the tournament.

The 26-year-old has a grade III tear in his hamstring and medics are racing against time to see how best, and fast, they can get him back on the field.

“We are consulting foreign doctors to see whether he needs surgery or not. If he does, he will be out for at least three months. At the moment, the situation is not that great and it’s highly unlikely if he can play the World Cup,” Prof. de Silva told the Sunday Times.

“Since he is a key weapon in our attack, we are looking at other options to see how best we can get his services at least for important games. All that depends on the opinions of the consultant to whom we are trying to show his reports.” Prof Arjuna de Silva said.

Hasaranga’s absence will be a huge blow to the Sri Lankan side, who are without its strike bowler Dushmantha Chameera, himself undergoing rehabilitation for a pectoral muscle injury.

“Chameera is bowling at the moment but still complains of pain. We have consulted a doctor in the United Kingdom to see how best we could treat him,” Prof. de Silva said.

In the event of Hasaranga’s withdrawal from the squad, a replacement would be announced from the two travelling reserves — Dushan Hemantha and Chamika Karunaratne, The Sunday Times News report added.