Kamal Ghorui
Sri Lanka and New Zealand have both been hit by injury setbacks in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, losing key all-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga and Michael Bracewell for the rest of the tournament. Both teams have acted quickly to name replacements, with Deshan Hemantha joining Sri Lanka and Cole McConchie called into the New Zealand squad. Hasaranga’s campaign ended abruptly after he suffered a hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s opening match against Ireland in Colombo on Sunday. Despite the early exit, the leg-spinning all-rounder had an impressive outing, taking three wickets for 25 runs in four overs.
However, his condition deteriorated, and an MRI on Monday confirmed a severe tear in his left hamstring. Following a review by a specialist in the UK, Sri Lanka Cricket officially ruled him out, with local reports indicating a recovery period of at least four weeks, effectively ending his World Cup. “The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Dushan Hemantha as Hasaranga’s replacement in the squad. Hemantha has appeared in five ODIs and three T20Is,” the ICC said. For New Zealand, Bracewell suffered a calf injury during warm-ups against Afghanistan in Chennai on February 8, aggravating a pre-existing tear from the third ODI against India last month. Follow-up scans confirmed the severity, with medical advice suggesting around three weeks before he could play again. Cole McConchie will join the squad in India as a travelling reserve alongside pacer Ben Sears, according to New Zealand Cricket. These injuries come at a crucial stage, forcing both teams to adjust their lineups as the tournament progresses.
