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Released by CSK, Matheesha Pathirana nabbed by Sharjah Warriorz for ILT20 25-26

Aakash Saini

Matheesha Pathirana [Source: AFP]Matheesha Pathirana [Source: AFP]

Young Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has been roped in by the Sharjah Warriorz franchise for the upcoming ILT20 2025-26 season. The franchise confirmed the same on Saturday, November 29, i.e., mere days prior to the launch of the fourth edition of the tournament in Dubai.

Pathirana last played ILT20 cricket back during in 2023 and 2024, representing the Desert Vipers franchise on both occasions.

Matheesha Pathirana joins Dinesh Karthik in Sharjah Warriorz

Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana is set to join the likes of Dinesh Karthik, Tim Southee, Adil Rashid, Johnson Charles, Tim David, Taskin Ahmed and Sikandar Raza among other international stars in the Sharjah Warriorz line-up for the upcoming ILT20 2025-26 season.

Pathirana was recently dropped from the Sri Lankan team for the Pakistan T20I tri-series 2025 in Rawalpindi. He last played international cricket for Sri Lanka a couple of months ago during the 2025 T20 Asia Cup in the UAE. A couple of expensive and a wicketless outing against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, both in September, prompted Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to release him from the national squad.

Moreover, the 23-year-old was also released from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise earlier this month, after he underwent an expensive IPL 2025 season for them, fetching just 13 wickets in 12 innings at an unwanted bowling average of 32.61 and an economy of 10.13, a stark contrast to his previous year’s performance for the same side.

In a bid to revive his dwindling stocks as a fast bowler, Matheesha Pathirana will be aiming to make the most of his ILT20 2026 gig for the Sharjah Warriorz, as the cricketer braces himself up for the IPL 2026 auction season and a packed international cricket schedule, which includes the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in a couple of months’ time.

Pathirana’s new team, the Sharjah Warriorz will face the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in their opening match of the ILT20 2026 season on December 3 in Sharjah.