Captain Shanaka Addresses Sri Lanka Selection Calls Ahead of T20 World Cup

Dasun Shanaka addressed plenty of questions related to Sri Lanka’s recent announcement of the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The inclusion of Kusal Perera came as a surprise to many experts, as he was recently left out of the Pakistan series. The captain explained the decision to pick Perera for the T20 World Cup, saying that his experience will help the young players perform confidently at the mega event.

"He has been in the T20 side [in] the recent past, even though he was left out of the squad to face Pakistan. We know that experienced players are very valuable in a World Cup. If you take strike rates, Kusal Janith can be used anywhere in the top six, so he will be a very valuable player." said Sri Lankan T20I captain, Dasun Shanaka.

When asked about the omission of Kamindu Mendis, Shanaka said the decision to drop such a valuable player was very difficult, but the management took it after analyzing various factors.

"That's a question you should ask the selectors. As a captain, I don't take decisions alone. We take decisions as a group. Kamindu, to be honest, is a very valuable player. That decision is something many people took together." said Dasun Shanaka.

The management of bowlers’ workload is a key concern for the Sri Lankan team in the upcoming matches. Speaking about Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka said that the team will utilize him as a strike bowler in the majority of matches, however, his workload will also be managed by keeping Pramod as his backup.

"In terms of importance, we know Dushmantha Chameera will play. That said, with the World Cup close by, his workload needs to be managed. He's not someone we need to play and see what he's doing right and wrong. But we need a backup for him, and that's why Pramod has come into the squad." concluded Dasun Shanaka.