Sri Lanka on Friday named Dasun Shanaka as captain of its preliminary 25-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with Charith Asalanka being removed from the leadership role.
Pramodaya Wickramasingha, who has returned as chairman of selectors, said the decision was influenced by Asalanka’s poor batting form and Shanaka’s experience of leading the side in three previous T20 World Cups.
Sri Lankan selectors explain leadership change
Wickramasingha said Asalanka had been part of Sri Lanka’s long-term leadership plans but circumstances forced a rethink. Asalanka’s standing in the team had come under scrutiny after he pulled out of the white-ball tour of Pakistan last month citing safety concerns following a suicide bomb blast in Islamabad that claimed nine lives.
“When I stepped down as a selector earlier, Shanaka was the captain and Charith was in our long-term plans,” Wickramasingha said. “Shanaka will return as an all-rounder and leader, given his experience.”
Sri Lanka have been placed in a group alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman for the tournament, which begins on February 7.
The selectors also felt it was important to relieve Asalanka of the additional pressure of captaincy ahead of key home series against Pakistan and England. Wickramasingha confirmed that Asalanka will remain in the squad purely as a batter.
“We hope he regains his batting form. After discussions with head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, we felt this was not the right time to make sweeping changes, so we decided to stick with largely the same squad,” he said.
On Niroshan Dickwella’s recall, Wickramasingha said the wicketkeeper-batter was being viewed as a flexible option within the group.
“He can be considered as an opener, a reserve wicketkeeper, or even as a middle-order batter,” he said.
Wickramasingha also indicated a shift in accountability within the team management structure, stating that the coaching staff would now share responsibility for team performance.
“In the future, the coach will also be a stakeholder. Earlier, only selectors were blamed or praised,” he said. “We will set fitness targets, and if players fail to meet them, the trainer will be held responsible.”
Sri Lanka T20 World Cup preliminary squad
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 and Traveen Mathew.
(By PTI Inputs)
