The Sri Lanka team will be defending champions of the Asia Cup and will look to retain their trophy this year. Asia Cup 2023 is one of the much-anticipated tournaments of the year and the continental event will be played just before the ICC ODI World Cup in India. This event will act as the preparation for the Asian teams to prepare for the marquee event in India.
Pakistan proposed a hybrid model where they would host the Asia Cup games except India’s games, which was finally accepted by the Asian Cricket Council with four games being awarded to the original hosts. Sri Lanka will be a joint host alongside Pakistan as they will host the remaining nine games of the tournament. Six teams will participate in this year’s Asia Cup.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Nepal will be teams fighting out for the prestigious title, starting on August 31. Here’s a look at the probable Sri Lanka Squad for the Asia Cup 2023.
1. Openers – Dimuth Karunaratne And Pathum Nissanka
Dimuth Karunaratne made a comeback to the Sri Lanka team after two years in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against Afghanistan as he scored two consecutive half-centuries in the final two games of the series. The team made a stunning comeback to win the series 2-1 after losing the first game on home soil and will look to continue his fine form in the important Asia Cup 2023.
Pathum Nisssanka has been one of the most exciting talents from Sri Lanka in recent times in all three formats of the game. In the previous Asia Cup in Dubai, Nissanka played as the opener with Kusal Mendis and they made match-winning partnerships in the games against Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and India to help them win the championship.
2. Middle Order Batters – Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, And Dhananjaya de Silva
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis is one of the most improved batters in cricket in recent years. The Right-handed has been one few names for Sri Lanka playing his trade in franchises around the globe and he has been doing a decent job for the Sri Lanka team in all three formats of the game. The 28-year-old player can open the batting and can also keep the wickets in the team.
Hard-hitting left-hander Charith Asalanka has been part of Sri Lanka’s white ball setup playing some crucial innings for his side in International Cricket. He is a versatile batter who can also bowl some off-spin, the Southpaw has got some cleaning-hitting skills in his batting.
Dhananjaya de Silva well-renowned Sri Lankan all-rounder in all three formats of the game. He has been one of the bright spots for Sri Lanka in the past couple of years when the team has struggled to put on impressive performances and will crucial player for his team in the forthcoming Asia Cup.
3. Wicket-keeper – Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera Samarawickrama returned to Sri Lanka’s Test squad after six years for their series against Ireland in 2023 and scored his maiden hundred and became the first Sri Lankan wicket-keeper to score a century since 2016 in test cricket made a return to ODI Cricket. He replaced the experienced Angelo Matthews in the ODI World Cup Qualifiers, which indicates that he might be part of the Sri Lanka Team for the Asia Cup 2023.
4. All Rounders- Dasun Shanaka (C), Chamika Karunaratne And Dushan Hemantha
Dasun Shanaka has proven himself to be one of the best finishers in white-ball cricket in the last 18 months or so, as he batted exceedingly well for the Sri Lanka team in limited-overs cricket. The 31-year-old will lead the Sri Lanka team going into the Asia Cup 2023 and ODI World Cup later this year. The right-handed batter, who can also bowl some medium pace for his team in the middle over.
Chamika Karunaratne can be a key figure for Sri Lanka in Asia Cup as he will contribute to the team’s success if provided an opportunity. He can be a handy batter lower-down the order for Sri Lanka and Dushan Hemantha can be the perfect backup all-rounder for the team, as his recent form helped him to make it into the team.
5. Spinners – Wanindu Hasaranga And Mahesh Theekshana
Wanindu Hasaranga is arguably one of the most well-known Sri Lankan players in their new era of Sri Lanka cricket due to his exploits in both international cricket and the franchise league around the globe. Hasaranga could trouble opposition batters on slow surfaces in sub-continental conditions and he is also a capable spin-hitter and can also use higher up the order.
Maheesh Theekshana has a handful of variations in his bowling, The Sri Lanka mystery spinner can outfox many opposition batters irrespective of the conditions. The youngster is expected to bowl in tandem alongside in the middle overs of the game.
6. Fast Bowlers – Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera, And Kasun Rajitha
Matheesha Pathirana made his debut for the ODI Cricket in the Afghanistan Series, He has produced some sensational performances for the Chennai Super Kings bowling tough death overs for them. The Youngster would look to transform his fine form going into the 50-over format of the game.
Dushmantha Chameera and Kasun Rajitha are expected to be the other primary pacer in the team, as they will look to produce a crucial performance for their team with the new ball in the Asia Cup against the high-quality opponents in the continental event.