Sri Lanka to play T20 triangular tournament ahead of Zimbabwe tour

Tuesday, 29 July 2025 03:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sadeera Samarawickrama

To plug gaps in batting and improve fielding standards
Sadeera Samarawickrama to be recalled to ODI side

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in collaboration with the national cricket selectors and the Sri Lanka team coaching staff is organising an invitation T20 triangular tournament before picking the T20I side to Zimbabwe.

The recently concluded T20I series against Bangladesh which Sri Lanka lost 1-2 exposed several shortcomings in the team especially the batting at numbers 4 and 6, and the inconsistency in fielding and catching.

“Before leaving for Zimbabwe we are playing a triangular T20 tournament with 3 teams starting 7 August at the SSC. We have a few options for the no. 4 and no. 6 spots. We want to see who is in good touch before selection,” said Chairman of Selectors Upul Tharanga.

“The National Selectors will pick the three sides for the triangular tournament from which the T20I squad to Zimbabwe will also be selected. Each team will play 4 matches on a round robin basis with the top two teams playing a final.”

Chief Selector Upul Tharanga

The tournament is scheduled to commence after the coaching program organised by SLC with power hitting specialist Julian Wood from 30 July to 5 August.

“We have picked about 25 players including players from the ‘A’ team to work with him. After he finishes his program we will commence the T20 triangular,” said Tharanga.

After the Bangladesh tour ended on 17 July and with the Major Club 50-over tournament concluding tomorrow with the final at the CCC grounds, the national cricketers will not have any matches till they leave for Zimbabwe in the final week of August which gives the selectors the opportunity to hold an invitation T20 tournament to plug in the gaps.

“We had a few issues with fielding with 3-4 players during the Bangladesh series. It’s difficult to play a T20 game when you have lapses on the field. The fielding is good but there is no consistency. In some matches they are brilliant and others rather ordinary,” said Tharanga who was of the view that Sri Lanka should have made a clean sweep of the series in all three formats against Bangladesh who were ranked much lower.

“We are looking to improve the fielding hugely. There is a big program currently going on with regard to improving the fielding. We have also spoken to the players about the fielding. Without being a good fielding side it is not easy to win matches in the shortest format where there is no coming back like in ODIs or Tests.”

Tharanga said there won’t be any big changes to the one-day squad for Zimbabwe other than the number 4 spot in the batting. “We have a problem with no. 4 and we are looking at bringing back Sadeera Samarawickrama.”

The T20I squad for the Zimbabwe tour will be picked after the triangular series.

Sri Lanka are due to leave for Zimbabwe in the final week of August and play a series of 2 ODIs and 3 T20Is in Harare.

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