BREAKING: Dasun Shanaka Leads Sri Lanka’s 2026 T20 World Cup Squad; Injury Panic Hits Pacer Eshan Malinga
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) dropped a bombshell Monday morning, confirming Dasun Shanaka will captain the 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup on home soil. But the announcement comes with a bitter aftertaste. Just hours after the roster reveal, rookie pace sensation Eshan Malinga suffered a dislocated shoulder, ruling him out of the final T20I against England.
The Squad: Power, Pace, and a “KKR” X-Factor
Selectors didn’t gamble on leadership, sticking with Shanaka to steer the ship despite the team’s rocky form. The headline-grabber, however, is the pace battery. Matheesha Pathirana—the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) speedster—headlines the attack. Pathirana has been terrorizing batters in the IPL, and his slingy action is Sri Lanka’s best weapon for the death overs.
Spin remains the island nation’s heartbeat. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ace Wanindu Hasaranga anchors the unit, partnered by the mystery of Maheesh Theekshana. The selectors also recalled Kamindu Mendis to bolster the middle order, while axing Pramod Madushan and Dhananjaya de Silva in a ruthless shake-up.
Sri Lanka 2026 T20 World Cup Squad
- Captain: Dasun Shanaka
- Batters: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Nuwanidu Fernando
- All-Rounders: Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga
- Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga, Dilshan Madushanka
“We know the fans are hurting after the England series. Losing by 11 runs hurts more than a blowout because we were right there. But the World Cup is a different beast. We aren’t just playing for a trophy; we’re playing for respect.” — Dasun Shanaka, Captain
The Malinga Blow & What’s Next
The timing couldn’t be worse. Eshan Malinga, the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) breakout star, dislocated his shoulder and has been rushed back to Colombo for an MRI. While he is currently listed in the World Cup 15, his participation hangs by a thread. If the MRI shows ligament damage, expect a reserve seamer to get the call by Friday.
Sri Lanka faces a brutal turnaround. Currently down 0-2 in the home series against England after a six-wicket thumping, they need a consolation win in the third T20I to salvage morale. Then, the real test begins. They open their World Cup campaign against Ireland on February 8 in Colombo, followed by clashes with Oman, Australia, and Zimbabwe. After crashing out in the group stages in 2024 and failing miserably in the 2023 ODI World Cup, anything less than a semi-final run will be considered a failure.
