Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup build-up begins today

Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne train ahead of today’s 

T20I at Pallekele

Jeffrey Vandersay (centre) will replace injured Wanindu Hasaranga. Dunith Wellalage and spin bowling Coach Piyal Wijetunge are also present

Bangladesh T20I Captain 

Litton Das

Wanindu Hasaranga sustained a hamstring injury while batting in the third ODI

• Three-match series against Bangladesh at Pallekele
• Hasaranga ruled out of series with hamstring injury

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka’s build-up for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup ,which they will co-host with India in February-March, commences with the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh beginning at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today.

Although Sri Lanka has shown improvements in the red-ball format and in ODIs in white-ball, they have quite a few grey areas to fix when it comes to the shortest format, where they have not displayed the consistency that the ODI team has shown and are thereby ranked seventh.

“When we started, we discussed coming to number five in the T20I rankings. It’s a process and we are on that way. Consistency is key and we are yet to sort out our combination. We are in the process of identifying two or three players for those spots,” said Sri Lanka Saptain Charith Asalanka at the pre-match media conference.

“We have sufficient time to sort things out before the World Cup. The important thing is managing players. We have to give the players who come into the scene a decent run and keep them in good form. The Lanka Premier League (LPL) will take place before the World Cup and that’s a big thing for us.”

It is on the performance in the LPL that players for the national team are selected. In that aspect, Avishka Fernando finds a place in the team batting at number 4.

“We’ve brought Avishka to the equation with the number four slot in mind. He had a good LPL for Jaffna playing at number four. Our yardstick for selection for the national team is the performance at the LPL. So, Avishka’s role has changed. Although he has opened earlier, his current role is at number four,” said Asalanka.

Two areas of concern for Sri Lanka are the no. 4 and no. 6 positions in their batting. 

For the number 6 slot, Sri Lanka have brought back Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne, both of whom have been tested and tried before but recalled because there is a paucity of young hitters in the domestic circuit.

“What we expect from them is the batting all-rounder and bowling all-rounder responsibilities. Dasun’s role could be a floating role, although he’s designated to bat at number six. Dasun, playing at number four, is what we are looking for from the floater’s role. He is our number one power hitter. Chamika; we are looking at number seven,” said Asalanka. With leg-spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the series with a hamstring injury, Asalanka said that Jeffrey Vandersay will take his place. Vandersay last played in a T20I way back in 2022 against India at Dharamsala, but has been in the mix in ODIs.

A media release from Sri Lanka Cricket states that Hasaranga sustained a hamstring injury on his right leg while batting during the third ODI. Following medical advice, he will return to Colombo to commence his rehabilitation process at the High-Performance Centre (HPC) and will not be available for selection for the T20I series against Bangladesh. No additional replacement has been named to the squad.

Talking of the bowling combination, Asalanka said: “There are four quicks in the squad and three of them have played in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Only Binura (Fernando) hasn’t played the IPL. But Binura brings the left-arm option. Eshan Malinga also has a good chance to play, too. We will make a final call ahead of the game. Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay will feature in the side and then we have Chamika and Dasun. I also can bowl and then we have a few quicks. We are looking at a combination from them.”

Asalanka considers the three matches to be closely fought out.

“Bangladesh is a good T20I side. But they lack experience like us. I don’t think we are far ahead and it’s going to be a tough series. It looks like a good batting pitch. I feel that we will be able to get a 180 plus total on this pitch.”

Bangladesh, ranked 10th, are hoping that they can put up a better display in the T20I format than they have done in the Tests and ODI series, both of which they lost to Sri Lanka.

“T20 is a different format. Tests are different. ODIs are different. We all know how to play T20 cricket, and that’s what I will be focusing on,” said Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Das. “We all know we have a series here, and playing against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka is always a challenge. But it will help us ahead of the World Cup. We will definitely try our best. It’s not going to be easy since it’s their home ground, and they are strong at home.”

“Sri Lanka were better, and that’s why they won games. In T20Is, if you play good cricket on the day, you will win. They have a lot of experience playing here, and overall, their bowling is strong, with several mystery bowlers.”

About his personal form, Litton said: “For me, every series and every match is important. Wherever I play, I try my best. That’s all I can do. But sometimes, failures come, and the success rate hasn’t been good. This is part of life. There are players who succeed in one year and struggle in the next. Understanding why that happens is important, and I hope to find out and overcome it.”