Friday Dec 26, 2025
Friday Dec 26, 2025
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Dasun Shanaka (left) has taken over the T20I captaincy from Charith Asalanka
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
One of the first decisions the newly installed cricket selection committee headed by former Sri Lanka fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe took was to appoint former white ball captain Dasun Shanaka as captain of Sri Lanka’s T20I side till the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Shanaka will replace Charith Asalanka who was both the ODI as well as T20I captain of the national team. However when Asalanka fell ill and had to return home after the ODI series in Pakistan, Shanaka who was vice-captain took over the leadership for the T20I Tri-Series that followed in Pakistan. He will continue in the role for next month’s T20I series against Pakistan and England and the T20 World Cup.
Giving reasons for removing Asalanka from the T20I captaincy, Wickramasinghe said, “Currently Charith is not amongst the runs in T20I cricket. You have to give him a break to regain his form. We want to give him a free mind to get back into the runs during the upcoming white ball series against Pakistan and England. That is why we have appointed Dasun till the T20 World Cup. Dasun has the experience of captaining in 3 World Cups - 2 T20 World Cups and one 50-over World Cup. After the T20 World Cup we will take a decision regarding the T20 captaincy. We appointed Dasun as captain after consultation with head coach Sanath Jayasuriya.”
Tharanga Paranavithana, a member of the new selection committee stated: “Charith is more important to us as a batsman than a captain for the T20 World Cup. If you look at his performance in the ODIs and T20Is we feel that there is more pressure on him to perform in T20Is. That’s why we all came to a conclusion to make Shanaka the captain for the T20 World Cup.”
Sri Lanka has also named a preliminary squad of 25 players for the T20 World Cup that will be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March.
Wickramasinghe said that the squad was picked by the previous selection committee with a certain plan in mind and that he does not want to make any changes at this point.
“We’ll go with this squad for the white ball series against Pakistan and England and the T20 World Cup. We’ll be selecting the teams for these series from this set of players.”
Wickramasinghe said the names of the initial squad of 25 players will be sent to the ICC after which it will be pruned down closer to the World Cup.
SRI LANKA’S PRELIMINARY T20 WORLD CUP SQUAD
Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew
