Chamara Silva to miss Sri Lankan opening World Cup match
Sri Lankan middle order batsman Chamara Silva is set to miss his team’s first match of the ICC World Cup 2011 on Sunday against Canada at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Staidum in Hambantota. He has been temporarily released from national duties because of his sister’s death on Thursday.
Manager of the Sri Lankan cricket team Anura Tennakoon said in a statement that, “We decided not to consider him (Silva) for the game against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Canada-c748 after the bad loss of one of his closest family members. We believe that he is not in the state of mind to play at the moment.”
The 31-year-old middle order batsman commented that his sister was very close to him and the news of her demise has come as a big shock. Apart from his abilities with the bat, Silva is a brilliant fielder which plays a crucial role in limited overs cricket.
“I was released from the squad soon after I received the shocking news last Thursday. My sister and I have been very close to each other and I can’t believe this occurred. But I’m determined to overcome all those emotional hurdles and perform well. I will begin practices as soon as the team returns to Colombo,” said Silva as he expressed his grief.
Silva has performed quite well in international cricket in patches, but he never quite cemented his place in the Sri Lankan cricket team. He has played 64 One Day Internationals for his country and has scored 1437 runs at a satisfactory average of 30.57, which include eleven 50’s and a hundred. He played a very important role for his country in its impressive campaign during the previous World Cup in 2007, as Sri Lanka was defeated by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and has a highest score of 152 not out, but he is generally considered as a limted overs specialist who can contribute heavily in the later stages of an ODI innings.
He will be missed from the first match, as the thoughts and prayers of all the fans are with Silva at this difficult time.
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