Saturday Nov 15, 2025
Saturday Nov 15, 2025
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Sri Lanka ‘A’ team for Rising Stars Asia Cup
No doubt Sri Lanka’s national T20 team is struggling to find a settled combination that would do them good in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in February-March.
In that context, the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team’s performance in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in Doha, Qatar, will be followed with great interest. It is an opportunity for the 15 players selected for the tournament to put their hands up to boost their chances of selection to the national team ahead of the T20 World Cup, where Sri Lanka are due to play Pakistan and then England in two white-ball series before the mega event.
One of Sri Lanka’s promising all-rounders, Dunith Wellalage has been given the task of leading the team against nations that played in the recently concluded T20 Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is a good prospect for Wellalage to showcase his talent with both bat and ball and force himself into the national team, of which he was a member until recently when he was left out of the ongoing tour to Pakistan.
The selectors felt that for Wellalage, instead of warming the reserves bench during the Pakistan series, it would be better if he gets some matches under his belt by playing in the Doha tournament. The same applies to the rest of the team members who get the chance to score runs and capture wickets against strong opposition to put forward their credentials for selection.
“All the teams participating are strong—they are the best in Asia. We have to back our team because T20 is a game that we cannot control the good and the bad; it is unpredictable,” said Wellalage shortly before the team’s departure yesterday. “The team that makes fewer mistakes is the one that will triumph. We are prepared to give 100% and back ourselves to win.”
“Playing in Doha is a new experience. From our Coaches Avishka sir (Gunawardene) and Chamila sir (Gamage) and the coaching staff, we get a lot of support. The wickets we will get there are similar to what we have at home. We are looking forward to adjusting to them and giving a good account of ourselves,” he added.
Wellalage said that his task as Captain has been made easy as there are quite a number of players in the squad who have represented the national team. “I am happy to captain a team with players of such experience and it’s a good side we have.”
The 15-match tournament, apart from the five Test playing nations – Sri Lanka ‘A,’ India ‘A,’ Pakistan Shaheens, Bangladesh ‘A,’ and Afghanistan ‘A’ – includes Oman, UAE, and Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ are in Group A with Afghanistan ‘A,’ Bangladesh ‘A,’ and Hong Kong. Group B comprises India ‘A,’ Oman, Pakistan Shaheens, and UAE.
Afghanistan are the defending champions, having beaten Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the final of the last edition.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad to Rising Stars Asia Cup
Dunith Wellalage (Captain), Vishen Halambage, Nishan Madushka (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sohan de Livera, Sahan Arachchige, Isitha Wijesundara, Ramesh Mendis, Traveen Mathew, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Garuka Sanketh, Pramod Madushan and Milan Rathnayake. – [ST]
Sri Lanka ‘A’ matches
15 Nov.: v Afghanistan A
17 Nov.: v Hong Kong
19 Nov.: v Bangladesh A
21 Nov.: 1st semi-final (day), 2nd semi-final (d/n)
23 Nov.: Final (d/n)
