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Dasun Shanaka retained as Sri Lanka captain for ICC T20 World Cup 2026; Asalanka punished? 

Aakash Saini



Dasun Shanaka is set to continue as Sri Lanka captain up until the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Last month, the seasoned all-rounder was asked to lead the Sri Lankan team as a stand-in skipper after Charith Asalanka was ruled out of the T20I tri-series in Pakistan owing to an illness.

Under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka reached the final of the Pakistan T20I tri-series, only to lose out to the hosts on the big day on November 29 in Rawalpindi.

Sri Lanka selection committee announce a hasty change before World Cup

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) newly appointed Selection Committee Chairman Pramodya Wickremesinghe has confirmed that star all-rounder Dasun Shanaka will continue to lead the national side until the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in a couple of months’ time, even though the 34-year-old was asked to lead Sri Lanka in Pakistan last month only on an interim basis after Charith Asalanka’s illness.

Even though Charith Asalanka has now returned and is part of Sri Lanka’s 25-member squad for the tournament, the selection committee has opted for continuity in leadership as Sri Lanka build towards the marquee event.

Pramodya Wickremesinghe also added that his new committee will not be making any changes to the 25-player Sri Lanka squad as announced by the previous selection committee.

Charith Asalanka not having the best of times

It is worth noting that previous captain Charith Asalanka has not been in the best of form off late, as the cricketer has only managed to aggregate 156 runs in T20Is this year at a substandard average of 15.60. 

Moreover, under his leadership, Sri Lanka failed to reach the final of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE a couple of months ago.

Add to that the Lankan players revolt that happened in Pakistan on their last tour was reportedly led by Charith Asalanka. Sri Lankan government and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had to convince their players to stay back in Islamabad after a terror attack rocked the city just 18 kms away from the stadium.

Reports emerged stating that SLC wasn't happy with Asalanka's moves during the tour and this might be one of the reasons behind them not appointing him the captain for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

With a change in captaincy regime, Dasun Shanaka is now expected to lead Charith Asalanka and other Sri Lanka teammates in the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan and England.