In order to participate in the cash-rich Lanka Premier League (LPL), Sri Lanka’s batter Kusal Perera is ignoring national team’s physio report, which recommends 6 weeks rehabilitation for the left-handed opener, Cricket Age exclusively learns.
Originally, Perera, along with Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva and few other high profile players, was not picked by the franchises in the LPL draft. However, later, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) forwarded the names of missing names and directed franchisees to pick two players each for the five teams. Accordingly, Perera was picked by the Colombo Stars along with Mathews, who has been named as captain of the franchise.
However, in an explosive revelation, it has emerged that Perera has been advised for 6 weeks rehabilitation by the national team’s physio Brett Harrop, in order to insure his full recovery from the long-standing injury. More shockingly, even after fully aware of the rehabilitation advice, Perera is ignoring it in his bid to play in the LPL and thus putting his national duty in grave danger!
Notably, this is not the first time that Perera has been accused of hiding the injury. During Sri Lanka’s third T20 International against South Africa before the T20 World Cup, Perera had sustained a hamstring injury. Perera was clearly struggling with his hamstring while running between the wickets during his innings, in which he top-scored for Sri Lanka with 39. Dr. Daminda Attanayake, a team physician, had said at that time that Perera’s availability for the World Cup was “on the fence”. Later, though he featured in all Sri Lanka’s matches in World Cup, but it was accused that he hid his injury and was included into the team only after coaches recommendations.
Then, recently, he was denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Dubai T10 League by the SLC, considering the fact that he needs 6 weeks rehabilitation.
“It’s very unfortunate that being one of the senior player, he is preferring to play in the LPL, while ignoring the national interest. His participation in the T20 World Cup already cost Sri Lanka a potential semi final birth, as he failed miserably in batting and dropped two important catches” a Sri Lanka expert told Cricket Age.
More surprisingly, Mathews, Colombo Stars captain and team management is also keeping a blind eye on Perera’s impending rehabilitation and allowing him to remain in the squad. Cricket Age inquired with SLC too in the matter, but board officials refused to comment!
