Wanindu Hasaranga sent home from England tour after back injury rules him out of ODI series

Hasaranga ruled out of England ODIs with back injury

Sri Lanka's tour of England has suffered a significant blow, with star allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga set to return home after experiencing lower-back pain during a practice session ahead of the first one-day international.

Hasaranga first felt discomfort in the build-up to the series opener, and the team management chose to rest him for that game. After further assessment, he has been ruled out of the remainder of the three-match series and will now travel back to Sri Lanka to begin his rehabilitation.

A worrying pattern of injuries

The latest setback adds to Hasaranga's frustrating history of injury-related absences. He missed the 2023 ODI World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury, and at the 2026 T20 World Cup he injured his hamstring in Sri Lanka's opening game against Ireland, forcing him out of the remainder of that tournament.

Having featured in all three T20Is immediately before this ODI series, the loss of their premier allrounder leaves Sri Lanka short of options in both departments for the remaining matches against England, with his recovery now expected to be managed at home rather than on tour.