- Selectors adopt horses for courses policy
Chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe says he is optimistic that co-hosts Sri Lanka will make their presence felt in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to commence on Saturday (7), and was upbeat that recent match experience would stand in good stead for them.
Dasun Shanaka’s team is set to compete at the 10th edition of the 20-team showpiece event from Group B, with their other opponents being 2021 champions Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe.
Wickramasinghe airing his views on the squad expressed confidence that the World Cup co-hosts will deliver when it matters most, having been engaged in a spate of white-ball series since the final quarter of 2025, leading up to the global gathering.
“This team has a decent balance to it,” he told The Daily Morning Sports, looking at the 15-man squad chosen alongside his co-selectors Indika de Seram, Tharanga Paranavithana, Vinothen John and Rasanjali de Alwis.
“All areas have been covered and now it is up to these players to do their stuff in the middle. As we are playing in our own conditions and with the recent exposure in bilateral contests, albeit having lost a few, I still have a strong feeling that Sri Lanka will make a real difference this time around.”
The selectors who officially released Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad to the ICC on Saturday (31), were forced to fall back on ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis in favour of misfiring Dhananjaya de Silva, while twenty-three-year-old prodigiously talented batter Pavan Rathnayake also made the cut.
The chief selector said they were mostly compelled to adopt a horses for courses policy in terms of swapping de Silva for Mendis for the World Cup, as the red-ball captain had struggled to make the desired impact since being recalled to the squad.
He pointed out that they had primarily banked on Kamindu Mendis experience in addition to the potency he could offer with the ball.
However, de Silva also had provided similar options to the team when being brought back to the setup against Pakistan early last month, following a prolonged absence from short format cricket
Mendis last played a T20 game against Pakistan in November last year, and it is left to be seen as to how he would be able to justify his re-inclusion in the team, following a three-month respite from international cricket.
Rathnayake’s entry comes largely on the back of his maiden hundred in the third and final ODI against England at the R. Premadasa Stadium late last month, and there is bound to be intense pressure on his young shoulders to repose the confidence placed on him by the selectors.
The chief selector stated that underwhelming returns by the team’s middle-order has had a knock-on effect on their recent inconsistent run across both ODI and T20Is.
He emphasised that besides the top-three of Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis the rest would come under the microscope, as Sri Lanka seeks to go the whole hog during the World Cup.
Wickramasinghe added that they were yet monitoring the progress of pacer Eshan Malinga who has dislocated his shoulder on Sunday (1), and observed that any decision on his involvement in the World Cup will depend on medical clearance.
The former Sri Lanka fast bowler also was content with the bowling stocks available, with pace merchants Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana spearheading the attack, supported by the spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.
The 2014 champions could also call on the likes of slow left-arm orthodox bowler Dunith Wellalage, their ODI skipper Charith Asalanka, and Kamindu as far as spin options are concerned.
Squad:
Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana
Sri Lanka’s group stage fixtures:
8 February: Sri Lanka vs. Ireland at Colombo
12 February: Sri Lanka vs. Oman at Pallekele
16 February: Sri Lanka vs. Australia at Pallekele
19 February: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe at Colombo