{
  "id": 1699530,
  "title": "Pasindu Sooriyabandara replaces Chandimal as concussion substitute",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/pasindu-sooriyabandara-replaces-chandimal-as-concussion-substitute",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T06:52:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/pasindu-sooriyabandara-replaces-chandimal-as-concussion-substitute/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the ongoing Galle Test due to concussion. Pasindu Sooriyabandara has been named as his replacement. Chandimal suffered an injury to his right shoulder and neck after diving and landing awkwardly while trying to save a boundary in the fourth over of the fourth day's play. The 36-year-old showed immediate discomfort and clutching his neck on the ground. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Chandimal was assessed by the team physiotherapist and doctor on the field and then taken to a hospital for precautionary scans, with no signs of internal injury. Chandimal, dismissed for 4 in the first innings, left the team in a challenging position as they faced a significant 178-run lead to India and had to chase down the fourth innings. Sooriyabandara, at 26, will be making his Test debut. In 68 first-class matches, he has averaged 54.36 and struck 14 centuries.",
  "summary": "Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the ongoing Galle Test with concussion. Pasindu Sooriyabandara has been named as his concussion substitute. Chadimal had to the leave the field after sustaining an injury to his right shoulder and neck. The incident occurred at the end of the fourth over of the fourth day’s play of […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}