Sri Lanka’s wicket-taking bowler Rangana Herath will not be able to feature in Sri Lanka’s playing XI for the third and the final Test due to a back injury. Earlier, Nuwan Pradeep was also ruled out of the final Test due to a hamstring injury.

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The Sri Lankan team has already lost the three-match Test series and is about to face a whitewash. As per the source of Cricbuzz, he said, “Rangana complained about back pain and we don’t want to take any chances with him. He is our leading bowler and we have a hectic season ahead. Hence we thought not to risk him for the final game of the series already lost.”

Sri Lanka will be up against Pakistan in the UAE next month for the two-match Test series followed by a three-match Test series in India in November. Herath had also hurt his middle finger of the left hand while fielding during the first Test but was declared fit for the second Test. Sri Lanka is likely to bring in the pacer Dushmantha Chameera in place of Pradeep.

Herath is also Sri Lanka’s highest wicket taker with 389 Test wickets to his name. They lost the Galle Test by 304 runs and suffered innings defeat at Colombo.