Veteran batsman heads home to receive treatment on injured knee
Sri Lanka's hopes of ending the five-match one-day series against Pakistan on a high have been dealt a blow with the news that Mahela Jayawardene has returned home due to a knee injury.
The 34-year-old middle-order batsman hit a half century in his team's 26-run defeat in the fourth match in Sharjah on Sunday, but played in some discomfort and has now been ruled out of the remainder of the tour.
Sri Lanka currently trail Pakistan 3-1 with two ODIs remaining, however team manager Anura Tennekoon confirmed Jayawardene's absence on Tuesday as the right-hander aims to regain fitness ahead of next month's tour of South Africa.
"After Sunday's game Mahela's injury got worse so he has returned home," Tennekoon told AFP. "Chamara Silva was brought in as cover."
Pakistan hold an unassailable lead in the one-day series with the fifth and final match to be played at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
