Sri Lanka Suffer Double Blow Before Pakistan Tri-Series Opener

Sri Lanka’s tour took an unexpected turn on Monday, and nobody expected this twist to arrive. Hours before the Sri Lanka T20I tri-series started, SLC announced that Charith Asalanka and Asitha Fernando would return home due to illness. It came as a surprise. Fans couldn’t help but wonder how it would affect the team.

The board called it a precaution, which sounded sensible, but the timing raised eyebrows. One moment, the squad looked steady, the next it had a gap right at the top. “Proper care and recovery time” was the official line, though the concern is real. When your captain leaves, the momentum shifts.

Dasun Shanaka will step into the captaincy again, a role he knows well. He walked into training looking calm, steadying the group with a few quiet words. Small details matter when the schedule stays tight. Sri Lanka faces Zimbabwe on Thursday, right after Pakistan’s first match against Zimbabwe at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Without their pacer and captain, Sri Lanka looks like a very different side.

The selection of uncapped Pavan Rathnayake added another layer of curiosity. A young top-order batter thrown into a high-pressure week. One phone call, and he was packing for Pakistan. These are the chances players dream about. 

Asalanka’s absence, though, changes the middle-order balance. He brings calm when things wobble. The sort of presence that keeps chatter going in the field. Asitha Fernando being ruled out stings too. On slow nights in Pindi, he can swing the ball sharp enough to make an opener rethink every shot. 

Fans back home reacted with surprise to the news. Many expressed concern over the team’s balance, while others hoped the replacements would step up. The squad focused on preparations and did not let the changes affect their training.

With four league games for each team and the final on November 29, Sri Lanka still has room to adjust. The reshuffle places more responsibility on Shanaka and the senior players as they push for strong results in the Sri Lanka T20I tri-series at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium.