Sri Lanka losses big ahead of Pakistan Test series

Former Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews has been ruled out for the opening Test against Pakistan due to calf muscle injury.

The all-rounder suffered a grade one tear to his calf muscle during a training session, Cricbuzz reported.

Mathews has served more time off the field in the past 12 months than ever before in his career. In August last year, Mathews tore his calf muscle during the fourth ODI against Australia which subsequently ruled him out for the remainder of the tour.

The 30-year-old then ended up missing the succeeding two-Test series against Zimbabwe in October.

Later, he hurt his hamstring on South Africa tour in January but was expected to be fit for the T20I series against Bangladesh, having missed the Tests and the ODIs already.

However, his calf injury resurfaced to rule him out of the T20Is too.

Mathews's injury has come at a time when his side's performances have hit the nadir. While Sri Lanka lost a Test to Bangladesh at home, they were outplayed in all formats by India, failing to win even a single game during the recently-concluded series at home.

The first of the two-Test series against Pakistan starts on September 28 in Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.