Shanaka Takes Captaincy Amidst Sri Lanka T20 World Cup Squad Shake-up

Sri Lanka has appointed Dasun Shanaka as the captain for their preliminary 25-member squad ahead of the T20 World Cup, a significant change from the previous leadership under Charith Asalanka. This decision, made by the new selection committee chairman Pramodaya Wickramasinghe, cites Asalanka's recent batting struggles and Shanaka's extensive World Cup experience as key factors. Asalanka, who had been under scrutiny following his withdrawal from a tour to Pakistan, will now focus on his role as a batter.

The selectors opted to relieve Asalanka of the captaincy burden to allow him to concentrate on his batting performance, especially with upcoming home series against Pakistan and England. The squad also sees the return of Niroshan Dickwella, who has been considered for multiple positions including opener, reserve wicketkeeper, and middle-order batter. Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya was consulted in these strategic team selections.

Looking ahead, the selection committee aims for greater accountability, involving the coach as a stakeholder and setting specific targets for player fitness. The chairman emphasized holding the trainer responsible for meeting fitness levels, indicating a more structured approach to team management for future tournaments. Sri Lanka is grouped with Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7.