Dasun Shanaka is Sri Lanka’s next T20I Captain?

Dasun Shanaka successfully captained Sri Lanka in a historic away series against Pakistan in 2019

Prominent short-format all-rounder of the country Dasun Shanaka will most likely be the next T20 International (T20I) Captain of Sri Lanka, The Morning Sports learnt yesterday (26).

National Selection Committee Head Ashantha de Mel said they will make the final call on the appointment of the T20I Captain when his committee meets next time. Sri Lanka’s next tour to the West Indies will have three T20I games, along with two Tests and three One-day Internationals (ODIs).

“We are yet to sit for the selections. He (Shanaka) is a good player and was the Captain in a successful tour of Pakistan earlier. At the same time, our regular T20 skipper Lasith Malinga is not involved in his practices now. But we will decide on the appointment of the Captain only when we sit next time for the selections (for the West Indie series),” de Mel said.

Yet de Mel denied that there could be a player revolt if another strong candidate for the job is appointed as Sri Lanka’s next T20I Captain.

This particular player, who is allegedly playing a dominating role due to his strong political affiliations with both the ruling party and the opposition, is becoming unpopular among his juniors, our sources said. Appointing him could trigger a player protest, it added.

“I don’t know about any player revolt because. And we have not made any decision regarding the captaincy as yet,” said de Mel.