Cricketer Chamika Karunaratne who found himself amidst a series of controversies in the past week suffered yet another mishap last week at the Lanka Premier League being held in Hambantota.
Karunaratne was playing for the Kandy Falcons led by Wanidu Hasarange, when Nuwanido Fernando smashed a fuller delivery bowled by West Indies Cricketer Carlos Brathwaite outside off over covers. However, Fernando failed to find the distance and Karunaratne, who had to track back from the cover region, ended up being hit on the face by the ball as it came down.
Four of Karunaratne’s teeth were damaged in the incident, with one tooth coming fully unlodged to fall on the ground. Despite the injury, Karunaratne managed to take the catch.
Doctor
While Karunaratne with blood pouring out of his mouth, picked up the fallen tooth, the team’s doctor Eranda Cabraal and psychotherapist rushed to his aid. Karunaratne along with the duo retreated to the pavilion appearing nonchalant about what had just taken place.
Dr. Eranda Cabral and the team management decided that surgery would be needed within an hour. Asiri Hospital in Galle was chosen for the purpose. Following coordination with the hospital authorities the careful transportation of the cricketer was arranged.
Medical advice was that the unlodged tooth should be immersed in a container of milk for transport. The team doctor along with Karunaratne then began their journey to the hospital in an ambulance.
While the journey of around 110 kms would regularly take around one hour and thirty minutes, the driver was able to take the cricketer to hospital in a mere 45 minutes. All preparations had already been made to receive him and carry out the urgent surgery.
While one tooth was completely dislodged, two teeth appeared to be seriously damaged. The other appeared to be loose and his lower lip was also damaged.
After administering anaesthesia, the surgery on Karunaratne began. It took over 30 sutures and over one and a half hours to complete it.
A similar incident took place many years ago in Kandy during a match between Sri Lanka Vs Australia where Steve Waugh broke his nose.
He was airlifted by helicopter where he underwent surgery at the National Hospital. Later Waugh claimed the doctors had in fact improved on his natural nose.
It is reported that the doctors had been able to do the same with Karunaratne displaying the talents of Sri Lanka doctors.
Karunaratne was transported back to the hotel where the team was staying on the same day. There, meeting the team management and its team consultant Sanath Jayasuriya, Karunaratne said he could play in the next match.
Amazed by his strength, they however advised him to rest. He is now scheduled to play in the second round of matches to be held in Kandy.
Karunaratne hails from a sporting family. His elder brother Niluka Karunaratne has been Sri Lanka’s national badminton player for the past 18 years while his other brothers Dinuka and Diluka are Sri Lanka’s number 2 and 3 ranked players in the sport.
While Karunaratne had first set off as a badminton player, he later decided to focus on cricket. While he contracted Covid-19 twice he continued his exercise regime while in quarantine at a hotel in Galle.
His accident left Sri Lankan cricketers devastated with many wishing him a speedy recovery on social media. However some had ridiculed him. “The catch should have been taken by hand and not by mouth,” some had jibed.
Karunaratne is known as a dedicated player with a strong sense of determination and intense dislike of defeat. This has resulted in some being highly critical of him.
Religious
Known to be religious, Karunaratne built a dharma shala for the temple in his hometown of Balapitiya.
He was also fined and received a suspended ban of one year recently for lighting a lamp for the Buddha in his hotel room in Australia while on tour and engaging in a tussle at a casino during the same tour.
Following the recent mishap Karunaratne took to social media the very next day to extend his thanks and gratitude to everyone who helped and supported him.
Known among cricketers and fans as ‘The Demon’ due to his sporting prowess and determination, despite undergoing a surgery he is now said to be preparing for the next game of cricket unfazed by the recent events.