In a significant update to Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign, fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the tournament due to a muscle strain in his left leg, sustained during the Group B match against Australia on February 16. Vikram Rathour, Sri Lanka's batting consultant, confirmed the severity of the injury, stating, "I think he's been declared unfit for the rest of the tournament." Pathirana's absence is particularly impactful as he is regarded as Sri Lanka's best death bowler. To address this gap, Dilshan Madushanka has been approved by the ICC's Event Technical Committee to join the squad, despite concerns regarding his recent injury history and inconsistent performances, having last played a T20I in July 2024. As reported by The Hindu, "Pathirana has been sidelined after suffering a muscle strain during Sri Lanka’s Group B fixture against Australia on February 16, which the hosts won by eight wickets at Pallekele."