Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1087 Fri. June 22, 2007  
   
Sports


Malinga knocks out Tharanga


Sri Lankan left-hand opener Upul Tharanga injured a foot and has been ruled out of the first two Tests against Bangladesh compounding problems to secure the top order, an official said Thursday.

"Tharanga was hit on his foot by a Lasith Malinga delivery this morning," Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Kangadaran Mathivanan told AFP.

He said Tharanga would miss the first two Tests in the series of three Tests and three one-day matches against Bangladesh that gets under way next week.

Marvan Attapattu, Sri Lanka's most accomplished opening batsman has already pulled out citing personal commitments.

"We will be looking at Thilan Samaraweera, Michael Vandort and Jehan Mubarak to fill in Tharanga's role," Mathivanan said.

Last time when Sri Lanka toured Bangladesh, Tharanga struck a magnificent 165 in the second Test at Bogra. He also has two one-day international centuries against the Tigers.