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Dasun Shanaka Likely To Step Down From Captaincy Ahead Of World Cup 2023

Shivani Shukla

image-lmra9qvsSri Lanka captain Dasun Shanka | Source: Twitter 

Despite missing several of their star players, Sri Lanka exceeded expectations by making it to the final of the Asia Cup 2023. However, their dreams were shattered by India in the final match at the jam-packed R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. 

In the high-stakes final, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka made a surprising call to bat first, even amidst overcast skies. Their decision proved disastrous as India's pace spearhead, Mohammed Siraj, wreaked havoc, claiming six wickets for a mere 21 runs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 50 runs.  

In their reply, Team India cruised to victory with all ten wickets intact, hardly breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, Shanaka's performance and captaincy have come under scrutiny, and as per a report of RevSportz, he is likely to step down from the role. 

Overall, Dasun Shanaka's performance in the Asia Cup 2023 was a mix of highs and lows. Over the course of six games in the tournament, he accumulated a total of 54 runs. 

His scores read 14, 4, 24, 9, 2 and a four-ball duck against India in the final of the continental tournament. 

Although his batting performance was modest, Shanaka's captaincy proved instrumental in steering Sri Lanka to the tournament final. The 32-year-old acknowledged his recent lack of form and thanked the selectors for their unwavering support despite his batting struggles.  

Here's what Dasun Shanaka said while speaking on Sri Lanka's YouTube channel ahead of the Asia Cup final: 

“I need to be calm and cool whenever the decisions should be made. I must be thankful to the selectors for keeping trust in me and also backing me and my coaching staff for giving me the confidence to be the leader to deliver the maximum out of me, so I am very grateful to them.”  

With Dasun Shanaka stepping aside as captain and the ICC World Cup 2023 just on the horizon, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board is confronted with a major conundrum: finding a new captain, particularly in the face of numerous injuries plaguing their squad.