Kumar Sangakkara out with fractured finger

Kumar Sangakkara has been ruled out of the rest of the One-Day International series against India with a fracture in the little finger of his right hand.

Sangakkara sustained the injury during his knock of 73 in the third ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday when he was struck on his finger by Ashok Dinda after missing a pull, and will miss cricket for at least four weeks, a Sri Lanka Cricket spokesperson said. Sangakkara will be unavailable for the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League, starting on August 11, and is in some doubt for the World Twenty20, beginning in Sri Lanka on September 18.

Sangakkara batted on despite the injury after receiving on-field treatment, and went for an x-ray shortly after being dismissed, which revealed a fracture. The injury occurred in the 15th over of the Sri Lankan innings, with Sangakkara on 24.

"He did feel some pain out in the middle, but it wasn't anything serious at that time," said Mahela Jayawardena, who added 121 for the fourth wicket with Sangakkara. "When you are out in the middle batting, you don't tend to feel the pain a great deal. And then again, Sanga is one of the guys who will fight it out, pain or no pain. Of course, when he went and had the scan, it showed a crack. We will have to monitor the situation, but we know for sure that he is out for at least four or five weeks.

"In a way, it is perhaps a good thing that he got injured," added Jayawardena. "He can get a break of about a month or a month and a half. He hasn't had any rest for he last couple of years, so this injury is a blessing in disguise. We will miss him, both as a batsman and as a wicketkeeper, but hopefully, we will have him fit for the World Twenty20 (in September)."