Sri Lanka have made a significant leadership change ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, with Dasun Shanaka appointed captain for the remainder of the tournament, replacing Charith Asalanka in the format. The decision was confirmed by newly appointed chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe as he unveiled Sri Lanka’s preliminary squad for the global event.
The move had been under consideration by the previous selection panel led by Upul Tharanga, whose tenure ended earlier this month. Wickramasinghe said the new committee chose to follow through on that plan after consulting head coach Sanath Jayasuriya and high-performance director Jerome Jayaratne.
“We decided that Dasun Shanaka should captain the side until the end of the World Cup after discussions with Sanath Jayasuriya,” Wickramasinghe said. “The previous committee had already identified a group of 25 players, and we felt it was best to continue with that plan rather than make sweeping changes at this stage.”
Shanaka recently led Sri Lanka as stand-in captain during a tri-series in Pakistan after Asalanka was sent home to recover from illness. While Sri Lanka suffered a defeat to Zimbabwe during the tournament, they still reached the final, where they were outplayed by Pakistan. Despite mixed results, the selectors appear to value Shanaka’s experience as a leader and his role as an allrounder.
“We see Dasun primarily as an allrounder,” Wickramasinghe added. “We’ll discuss with the coach what is expected from him and how best to use him.”
Asalanka, who had captained Sri Lanka in T20Is since the previous World Cup in mid-2024, remains part of the squad despite losing the captaincy. His modest returns in the format this year — 156 runs from 12 innings at a strike rate of 122 — have contributed to the change. Although he has never been a prolific T20I scorer, the selectors stressed that he remains firmly in their plans.
The preliminary squad also signals a potential comeback for Niroshan Dickwella, who has not represented Sri Lanka since March 2023. The selectors indicated they were seeking a top-order batter who can also keep wickets, opening the door for Dickwella’s return to international contention.
Wickramasinghe emphasized continuity ahead of the World Cup, suggesting any broader rebuilding would come after the tournament. “For now, we want to keep this group together, get through the World Cup, and then assess how best to move forward,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s preliminary squad blends experience with youth and includes several established white-ball performers as they look to settle leadership and roles before the World Cup begins.
