COLOMBO, Sept 9: Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya is still unsure whether he will recover from a shoulder injury to lead the hosts against Pakistan in Thursday’s opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy tournament.

“I am trying my best. But there is still some pain,” he said Monday as Sri Lanka prepared for the 12-nation event, the second most important one-day tournament after the World Cup.

The left-hander badly dislocated his right shoulder while attempting a catch during Sri Lanka’s victory over South Africa in the one-day triangular series final in Morocco on Aug 21.

He had looked certain to miss the prestigious event in his backyard, but is more optimistic as he is recovering from the injury faster than expected.

“I have started batting. I am trying my best,” he told reporters, having started playing two days ago.—Reuters