- Optimistic players will regroup for Pak tour
Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya says that his white-ball squad is currently undergoing training at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium (MRICS) in Hambantota, ahead of the national team’s forthcoming tour to Pakistan.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to feature in a 3-match ODI series against their hosts from 11-15 November in Rawalpindi, after which they are to be joined by Zimbabwe in a T20I tri-series from 19-29 November in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
Jayasuriya stated that the MRICS in Sooriyaweva, Hambantota was selected due to incessant rains in others parts of the country as well as due to its batting-friendly conditions, which are expected to be similar to those in Pakistan.
“Currently it’s raining in most parts of the country,’’ he told The Daily Morning Sports. “Therefore we opted to carry out our training at Hambantota, where it is mostly dry compared to the rest of the venues.”
The head coach noted that the Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan will probably feature a mix of experience and youth.
He added that a provisional squad was currently being put through their paces by the coaches and remarked that the final touring squad would be selected early next month.
He expressed hope that his players would be able to regroup after the disappointing showing in the Asia Cup played in the T20 format in the UAE in September this year.
Asked whether there were any plans to relieve white-ball skipper Charith Asalanka from the helm, the head coach refuted any claims to that effect.
Speculation has been rife in the local cricketing circles, that the left-handed top-order batter could be replaced by a former captain, in view of a series of tactical misjudgements on the field during the concluded Asia Cup campaign.
There have also been concerns raised over Asalanka’s performance as a batter having mustered only 75 runs in the said tournament-in which Sri Lanka failed to advance to the final, having won their first-round group ties comfortably.
However, Jayasauriya said there has not been any discussion to that effect with the team management, and insisted that he was unable to shed any light on the matter.
Asalanka, 28, was named the country’s ODI captain in July last year replacing Kusal Mendis, having been named its T20I skipper as well during the series against India, following the abrupt resignation of Wanindu Hasaranga.
He led Sri Lanka to notable ODI home series triumphs over India (2-0), West Indies (2-1) and New Zealand (2-0) in 2024 and over Australia (2-0) early this year, respectively.
But, their form in the sport’s shortest format has been patchy losing 12 of 22 matches in 2024 and seven of 12 this year leading to their current dismal position in the ICC Rankings.
Following the completion of the short format tour to Pakistan, Sri Lanka’s final assignment before the T20 World Cup will be against England, who will be visiting the South Asian nation for three ODIs and a similar number of T20Is in January-February 2026.
Sri Lanka currently stands in fourth place in the latest ICC ODI Rankings, but are placed at a lowly eighth in the T20I Rankings.
Moving up the ICC T20I Rankings is a challenge which the island-nation will face in the run up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be played in the sub-continent next year.