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Cricket World Cup 2019

Sri Lanka call up Rajitha as chickenpox rules out Pradeep

by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

Nuwan Pradeep will miss the rest of Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign after contracting chickenpox.

The seam bowler, who took 4-31 on his debut in the competition when Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan in Cardiff on June 4, has been replaced in the squad by Kasun Rajitha.

Rajitha has played six ODIs since his 2018 debut, taking five wickets at an average of 47.80, but the 26-year-old has shown promise in his six Test appearances, taking 23 scalps.

Nuwan Pradeep took four wickets on his World Cup debut against Afghanistan

Sri Lanka must win both their remaining group games to stand any chance of progressing to the semi-finals after a mixed tournament featuring a victory over England and two washouts.

Dimuth Karanuratne’s side take on already-eliminated West Indies in Durham on Monday before finishing their group fixtures against India at Headingley on July 6.

Pradeep is the second high-profile pace bowler to be affected by chickenpox this summer: Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir was struck down by the same illness before the World Cup.

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