Lahiru Udara Replaces Injured Pathum Nissanka in Sri Lanka's ODI Squad
Sri Lanka Cricket named uncapped ODI batter Lahiru Udara as Pathum Nissanka's replacement for the tri-nation series in Pakistan after Nissanka failed to get medical clearance for his hamstring injury.
Lahiru Udara has been drafted into Sri Lanka's ODI squad as the replacement for the injured Pathum Nissanka ahead of the tri-nation series in Pakistan, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Thursday.
Nissanka, who damaged his hamstring on the tour of England, has not received return-to-play medical clearance and will also sit out the white-ball leg of the Pakistan tour. He had been named in the squad announced on October 4 only on the condition that he would travel if declared fit — a condition he could not meet. The right-handed opener also missed the recent three-match T20I series against Pakistan.
Udara, 27, is yet to make his ODI debut but comes in good form, with five Tests and seven T20Is to his name. He struck 91 in the first T20I against Pakistan earlier this month — his maiden fifty-plus score in the format — and owns a Test hundred, a 188 against the West Indies in July 2026.
The tri-nation ODI series, which also features England, begins on October 18 with the final scheduled for October 31. Nissanka remains in Sri Lanka's 15-member squad for the two-Test series against Pakistan starting November 9, though his availability for that tour is once again subject to fitness.