Sri Lanka have named a fresh leadership group for their upcoming white-ball campaign in the West Indies, with the tour beginning next month and continuing into the opening week of July. The changes impact both T20I and ODI captaincy, while the Test team will remain under the same skipper.
Dasun Shanaka, currently representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has been stripped of the T20I captaincy role. Shanaka’s removal comes after the team he leads failed to reach the semi-finals at the T20 World Cup hosted in Sri Lanka earlier this year. While he delivered a sharp innings against Pakistan in their most recent Super-8 match, it still did not carry Sri Lanka into the next stage. Despite losing the captaincy, Shanaka has kept his place in the T20I squad.
In the IPL context, Shanaka’s recent form has been notable as well—he played a key part in Rajasthan Royals’ play-off qualification, sealing a win over Mumbai Indians on Sunday. That contribution, however, did not prevent the leadership change at international level.
Charith Asalanka will also no longer captain in the ODI format. He featured in the T20 World Cup as well, but he has now been left out of Sri Lanka’s T20I group. Even with the captaincy removal in ODIs and the T20I exclusion, Asalanka continues to be part of the ODI squad.
Kusal Mendis has been appointed as the new captain for both T20I and ODI cricket, taking over the roles vacated by Shanaka and Asalanka.
De Silva to remain Test skipper
There is no alteration to Sri Lanka’s Test leadership. Dhananjaya de Silva will continue as captain for the Test leg of the tour.
The itinerary includes three ODI matches on June 3, June 6 and June 8, followed by three T20Is scheduled for June 12, June 14 and June 15. Sri Lanka then play two Tests starting June 25–29 and July 3–7.
Hasaranga returns to boost squads
On a positive note for the touring side, spin-bowling allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga has recovered from injury and has been included in both the T20I and ODI squads. Hasaranga picked up the problem during the T20 World Cup, which also meant he missed the Indian Premier League where he would have been with Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants. Lucknow ultimately finished at the bottom of the points table, managing four wins and 10 losses.
Squads
Test squad
- Dhananjaya de Silva (captain)
- Kamindu Mendis
- Pathum Nissanka
- Lahiru Udara
- Nishan Madushka
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara
- Sonal Dinusha
- Kusal Mendis
- Milan Rathnayake
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Ramesh Mendis
- Asitha Fernando
- Vishwa Fernando
- Lahiru Kumara
- Isitha Wijesundara
- Kasun Rajitha
ODI squad
- Kusal Mendis (captain)
- Kamindu Mendis (vice-capt)
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kamil Mishara
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Janith Liyanage
- Charith Asalanka
- Milan Rathnayake
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Dunith Wellalage
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Dilshan Madushanka
- Eshan Malinga
- Asitha Fernando
- Pramod Madushan
T20I squad
- Kusal Mendis (captain)
- Kamindu Mendis (vice-capt)
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kamil Mishara
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Lasith Croospulle
- Dasun Shanaka
- Milan Rathnayake
- Dunith Wellalage
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Dilshan Madushanka
- Eshan Malinga
- Binura Fernando
- Nuwan Thushara
