England vs Sri Lanka – Sharith Asalanka named vice-captain, Dasun Shanaka returns to ODI squad for England tour
Asalanka’s return to the Sri Lanka T20I team – and leadership group – comes on the back of an excellent season in the Sri Lanka Premier League, where he made 385 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.38. He was also the man of the match final, helping the Galle Gladiators win their first LPL title with 3 for 20.
Udara’s inclusion in the T20I squad comes after his LPL season, where he was the outstanding batsman of the season with 434 runs across nine innings, at a strike rate of 159.55. It scored a fifty-five and topped the charts borderline.
Liyanage has been on the sidelines of the national team and impressed during the LPL, scoring 207 runs in nine innings. Among the countrymen who have played in the tournament this season, Shanaka (180.15) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (182.55) have scored a higher strike rate than Liyanage’s 169.67, from at least the same number of matches.
Tharindu’s inclusion is less obvious, as he has picked up just seven wickets across eight innings at an economy rate of 8.36 across the LPL. However, his domestic T20 record fares better, with 92 wickets across 77 innings at an economy of 6.50. He also provides a deft option for Sri Lanka, bowling both left-arm and right-arm with equal control.
On the other hand, Karunaratne was unfortunate to miss out on a place in the T20I squad. He made an impressive 253 runs at 157.14, and was a key part of Galli’s title assault. Pavan is also absent despite having a breakout year, when he came into the white-ball fold during England’s tour of Sri Lanka at the start of 2026, before producing some winning hands during the T20 World Cup. However, he was dropped due to the disappointing tour of the West Indies – in which he scored just five runs in three matches – that followed.
The changes made on the ODI side are more minor in comparison, with Shanaka’s return the headline along with a potential debut for Colombaj. Milan and Pramod Madhushan were omitted.
Shanaka, 34, played the last of his 71 international caps against Zimbabwe in January 2024, after which he was dropped after a shameful 2023 in which he averaged 8.83 over 13 innings. However, he returned to the ODI team after his white-ball stock soared due to his performances in T20. In his long absence of two-and-a-half years, Sri Lanka have also struggled to replace Shanaka’s batting prowess at the bottom of the order. This year, he has made 332 runs in 15 T20Is at a strike rate of 171.13.
The returning Colombage picked up 10 wickets over six innings at an economy rate of 7.95. He made his domestic debut in 2019, and his 48 T20s have fetched 69 wickets at a strike rate of 13.7. He will deputize for Wanindu Hasaranga – whose fitness has not been guaranteed in recent times – in the bowling line-up.
The rest of the squads were named as expected, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal back after their injury layoffs.
Sri Lanka will play three T20Is and three ODIs in England, starting with the first T20I in Southampton on September 15.
Sri Lanka tour to England
Audi squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sharith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis (c), Janeth Liyanage, Pavan Ratnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanendu Hasaranga, Dhunith Willalage, Mahesh Thekshana, Sachindu Kulumbag, Dushmantha Chameera, Ishan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madhushanka.
T20I squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kumail Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (C), Kamindu Mendis, Sharith Asalanka (VC), Janeth Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Donith Willalage, Wanendu Hasaranga, Mahesh Thekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Ishan Malinga, Nuwan Thashara, Binura Fernando.
