Asela Gunaratne will miss the Twenty20 series against Bangladesh

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Sri Lanka have been dealt a massive blow as all-rounder Asela Gunaratne will play no part in the two-match Twenty20 series against Bangladesh due to an arm injury.

Gunaratne injured his right arm after it got caught in an awkward position while he was diving during a fielding drill.

The 32-year-old will return to Sri Lanka on Thursday afternoon to undergo MRI scans and begin his rehabilitation.

In the statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), they confirmed that no one will replace Gunaratne.

Gunaratne is the third high-profile player Sri Lanka have lost for the Twenty20 series after captain Angelo Mathews and wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera.

Mathews is currently nursing a hamstring injury, while Kusal has not sufficiently recovered from a side strain. Both players sustained their injuries during the ODI tri-series, which involved Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, in January.

The Twenty20 series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka gets underway on Thursday in Dhaka.