Public Negativity Hurt Us, Says Dasun Shanaka After Sri Lanka Elimination

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka is deeply hurt with the public negativity his side has to face during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He said this negativity is not just affecting the team’s performances, but also their mental health.

"A lot of times what we see and hear are negative things. No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside.” said Dasun Shanaka while talking to the reporters.

“That's a big loss for for Sri Lankan cricket. This is the only sport we have, and I don't know if we'll be able to protect it. If you look outside the stadium you'll see how many people are standing outside with mics, and people will say stuff without having watched the match." added Dasun Shanaka.

He further added that the government authorities should look into this matter, as the external negativity surrounding the team is becoming severe day by day.

"Why spread this negativity? Yes, we lost a World Cup, and we know the reasons. Everyone has concerns. More than talking about that and correcting it, the negativity has come to the fore. We will play and leave, but if for the players who will come in the future, if the government can even stop it [the negativity] that's better for their mental health." said dejected Dasun Shanaka.

Shanaka then said that his team tried to perform well in the tournament, but couldn’t produce the required results. As captain, he wants to apologize to all the Sri Lankan fans for not living up to their expectations.

"The team is always trying to perform, especially in a World Cup, and I don't think anyone here will be able to play in a World Cup in Sri Lanka again. Everyone had the desire to get into a semi-final. We all had that desire. But we didn't do justice to the expectations. We couldn't give fans what we wanted. For that we're sorry." concluded Dasun Shanaka.