🏏 Shanaka Replaces Asalanka as SL T20 Captain

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Shanaka: 1,000+ T20I runs @140+ SR, clutch finisher
2🏆 Replaces Asalanka post-Pakistan tri-series illness
3💡 Mirrors 2014 Malinga success: experience for WC push
4🔮 Preliminary 25-man squad eyes Super 12s spot
5💬 'Shanaka till WC end' - Selector Wickramasinghe

"Asalanka had led the side during the recently concluded tri-series in Pakistan before returning home due to illness, prompting Shanaka to step in as stand-in captain"

Dasun Shanaka has been appointed Sri Lanka's T20I captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup, replacing Charith Asalanka in a surprise mid-season shake-up. Sri Lanka Cricket's chief selector Upul Tharanga Wickramasinghe confirmed the decision after consultations with coach Sanath Jayasuriya. This comes post the Pakistan tri-series where Asalanka fell ill, handing Shanaka interim duties amid security scares. The move aims to harness Shanaka's experience for global glory in 2026.

Asalanka's brief stint followed internal debates, but Shanaka's proven finishing prowess—over 1,000 T20I runs at 140+ strike rate—makes him ideal. Sri Lanka's T20 form has dipped, winning just 40% of recent series, prompting this return to a 2022 World Cup finalist. A preliminary 25-player squad mirrors prior selections, signaling continuity under new high-performance head Jerome Jayaratne.

Experience Over Youth in T20 Shake-Up

Shanaka's recall echoes Sri Lanka's 2014 T20WC triumph under Lasith Malinga, blending power-hitting with tactical acumen. His stats: 548 T20I runs @22.87 avg, but clutch knocks like 98* vs Aus stand out. Compared to Asalanka's emerging leadership (5 wins in 10), Shanaka's 15 prior captaincies offer stability, crucial on spin-friendly subcontinent tracks.

World Cup Stakes Heighten

Sri Lanka lurks mid-pack in T20I rankings, needing points for Super 12s qualification. Shanaka's promotion could unify a squad hit by retirements and form slumps, boosting morale post-Pakistan resilience. It impacts bilateral series, potentially elevating middle-order dynamics with Kusal Mendis and Pathirana.

Pathirana's Pace to World Cup Glory?

Watch Sri Lanka's warm-ups and opener vs Ireland in 2026 T20WC. Shanaka's death-over mastery could be decisive—will it reignite Lankans' white-ball fire?