• Tharanga tightlipped

Chief selector Upul Tharanga says that his selection panel is yet to be officially retained by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage upon the expiry of its two-year term on Thursday (11).

He said therefore that he still could not comment officially on Sri Lanka’s T20 squad selections for the upcoming three-match bilateral series against Pakistan, which will also be the visitors’ first engagement in the shortest format on Lankan soil in 11 years.

The series, which is not part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for both countries, has been fixed to be played during the second week of January 2026 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium as part of both teams’ preparations for the following month’s ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.

Asked whether all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who replaced sick regular white-ball Captain Charith Asalanka, could be retained for the forthcoming series against Pakistan, Tharanga, himself a former skipper, said it was impossible to comment on this as his panel was still unsure as to whether they would be allowed to continue or not.

“Without knowing our position at this stage, I cannot comment,” the former left-handed opener told The Sunday Morning Sports.

“The decision on whether we get any extension or not is entirely up to the Minister, so until he informs us, I cannot make any further remarks.”

Tharanga added that as there was still time to make selections ahead of the Pakistan series, it would be premature to make any firm decisions on the captaincy and related matters.

Shanaka was appointed as acting skipper of the T20 side during the illness-induced absence of Asalanka for the recently concluded T20I Tri-Series in Pakistan, which also featured Zimbabwe, where Sri Lanka ended as Runners-Up to the hosts.

The other members of the Tharanga-helmed selection panel includes former players Ajantha Mendis, Indika de Saram, and Tharanga Paranavitana, while its original member Dilruwan Perera stepped down after a while to pursue a full-time coaching career. 

Sri Lanka is also due to play a full white-ball series consisting of three One-Day Internationals and a similar number of T20Is against England, soon after the conclusion of the series against Pakistan.

(JK)