COLOMBO, July 20: Sri Lanka's preparations for the second stage of the Asia Cup have been hit by a flu bug affecting three members of the squad.
The hosts take on Pakistan on Wednesday but skipper Marvan Atapattu, batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan and seam bowler Chaminda Vaas have all been laid low by the bug.
Atapattu, who was forced off the field during Sri Lanka's 12-run win against India on Sunday, and Dilshan have been put on a course of antibiotics. On Tuesday morning Vaas was the latest casualty of the bug, although physiotherapist C.J. Clarke was hopeful that his case might not be too serious.
"There is not really a lot we can do about the situation apart from making sure they take on plenty of fluids and rest," Clarke told reporters. Atapattu is confident that he will be able to play but Sri Lanka will have to wait until the morning of the match before confirming their playing XI.
"There is nothing we can do about that so we just have to take that from day to day and see who is fit and ready to play," coach John Dyson told reporters. Sanath Jayasuriya, who sat out the last game with a side strain, has made a good recovery and resumed bowling in the nets on Monday.
Opener Jayasuriya is keen to return as soon as possible and is expected to be available for selection, certainly as a batsman and possibly as a spin bowler too. -Reuters
