NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka on Friday appointed Dasun Shanaka as captain of their preliminary 25-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, bringing an end to Charith Asalanka’s stint as leader. The decision was confirmed by Pramodaya Wickramasingha, who has returned as chairman of selectors. He explained that Asalanka’s recent struggles with the bat and Shanaka’s experience of featuring in three previous World Cups influenced the call.Asalanka had already been under scrutiny after pulling out of last month’s white-ball tour of Pakistan, citing safety concerns following a suicide bomb blast in Islamabad that claimed nine lives.
“Shanaka’s role will be of an all-rounder. When I stopped being a selector Shanaka was the captain. Charith (Asalanka) was in our long term plans then,” Wickramasingha said.Sri Lanka have been drawn alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman in the tournament, which begins on February 7.Wickramasingha added that easing Asalanka of the captaincy was necessary ahead of home series against Pakistan and England, although the left-hander remains part of the squad purely as a batter.“We hope he will regain his batting form. In consultation with Sanath Jayasuriya (the head coach) we decided it was not the time to make too many changes. So we decided to go with the same squad,” he said.On the recall of Niroshan Dickwella, Wickramasingha said multiple roles were discussed: “as an opener, a reserve wicket keeper or even a middle order batter.”He also stressed that the coaching staff would have greater accountability going forward.“We will have targets for fitness for example. I will hold the trainer responsible if the players were not able to meet the required fitness level,” he said.Sri Lanka 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 and Traveen Mathew.
