Big changes are happening in SLC right now. The board announced their 25-member preliminary squad back on December 19, 2025. Dasun Shanaka takes over as captain for the home tournament.
The Sri Lanka squad for T20 World Cup 2026 brings back familiar faces mostly. They’ve kept 13 players from the 2024 World Cup edition. The selectors clearly value experience and continuity here.
This tournament means everything for them. They’re co-hosting the T20 World Cup 2026 with India starting February 7. Home advantage could prove massive for the island nation.
Captaincy Switch Creates Buzz
Charith Asalanka lost the captain’s job surprisingly. His recent batting form has been absolutely terrible. Chairman of selectors Pramodaya Wickramasingha made this tough call.
Wickramasingha returned to his role recently and acted quickly. He felt Asalanka needed relief from captaincy pressure immediately. The Sri Lanka squad needed fresh leadership before the crucial home series.
Shanaka brings three World Cups’ worth of experience to this role. He was the captain when Wickramasingha served as a selector before. That familiarity between them should help team dynamics.
Charith Asalanka’s Difficult Period
Asalanka stays in the Sri Lanka squad as a pure batter. The selectors still believe in his long-term potential. They hope removing the captaincy burden helps him rediscover batting form.
His situation got complicated during the Pakistan tour last November. A suicide bomb explosion in Islamabad killed nine people tragically. Asalanka left the white-ball tour midway citing safety concerns.
That incident shook many players mentally and emotionally. Coming back from such experiences takes time obviously. The Players list still includes him with full support.
Strong Core Remains Intact
The team features proven white-ball stars throughout the lineup. Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Kusal Perera anchor the batting. Former skipper Asalanka adds depth to middle-order options.
Niroshan Dickwella makes his return to international cricket here. He can open, keep wickets, or bat in the middle order. That versatility makes him valuable for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Head coach Sanath Jayasuriya worked closely with selectors on this list. They decided against making drastic changes to team composition. Stability matters more than experiments right now.
Sri Lanka’s Preliminary Squad:
Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew
Home Tournament Expectations
Sri Lanka lands in a tricky group alongside quality teams. Australia, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe share a group with them. Australia will be their toughest challenge obviously.
Playing at home brings massive pressure and expectations together. Lankan fans expect nothing less than the semifinals. The T20 World Cup 2026 could define careers for many players.
The preliminary 25-member team gives selectors flexibility for final selections. They’ll fine-tune combinations over the coming weeks. February 7 marks the beginning of the 2026 World Cup journey.
