White-ball vice-captain Asalanka named back for England T20Is

Three months after losing the ODI captaincy and six months after being axd from the T20 unit Charith Asalanka has earned a spot in Sri Lanka’s leadership group once more. He will also be the vice captain of Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20I sides on their tour of England in September.

Former vice-captain Kamindu Mendis has been retained in both squads while Kusal Mendis will continue captain both white-ball sides. Legspinner Sachindu Colombage has also been called up for the first time, while Dasun Shanaka is back in the ODI side for the first time since January 2024.

Asalanka’s selection is one of four changes to Sri Lanka’s T20I side with Lahiru Udara, Janith Liyanage and Tharindu Ratnayake also drafted in. Pavan Rathnayake, Lasith Croospulle, Milan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka have all been omitted from the T20I side.

Asalanka had been captain of both white-ball units at this stage last year. But a combination of poor form and a reluctance to play on during Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan last year – citing security concerns – led to him being ousted as T20I captain. Asalanka remains an integral part of Sri Lanka’s ODI team but was completely out of the T20I side after the World Cup in February this year.

Asalanka is back in Sri Lanka’s T20I side and leadership group after a stellar Lanka Premier League season, where he scored 385 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.38. He also won Player of the Match in the final, helping Galle Gladiators to their first LPL title win with his 3 for 20.

Udara’s selection to the T20I squad comes on the back of his own LPL campaign, where he was the batter of the season for the tournament scoring 434 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 159.55. He scored five half centuries and topped the boundary charts.

Liyanage had been on the fringes of the national side and impressed in the LPL scoring 207 runs in nine innings. Of fellow countrymen who have played in the tournament this season only Shanaka (180.15) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (182.55) have a better strike rate than Liyanage’s 169.67 and from at least as many games.

Tharindu is less obvious having picked up just seven wickets in eight innings at an economy rate of 8.36 in the LPL. But his T20 record at home is better with 92 wickets in 77 innings at an economy of 6.50. He is also an ambidextrous option for Sri Lanka able to bowl left-arm and right-arm spin with equal control.

Karunaratne however was unlucky to miss a T20I squad place. He was a key part of Galle’s charge to the title scoring an impressive 253 runs at 157.14. Pavan too misses out despite a breakout year when he entered the white ball fold during England's tour of Sri Lanka at the start of 2026 before producing some match-winning hands during the T20 World Cup. He was not involved in the subsequent West Indies tour which proved to be underwhelming with just five runs across three matches.

The ODI changes are less dramatic with the return of Shanaka the headline act and Colombage potentially earning his debut. Milan and Pramod Madushan were left out.

Shanaka 34 last played his 71st ODI against Zimbabwe in January 2024 and was dropped after a poor 2023 in which he averaged 8.83 from 13 innings. However he is back in the ODI side as his stocks have gone up in white ball cricket due to his T20 performances. Sri Lanka have also struggled to replace Shanaka’s power-hitting lower down the order in his two and a half years away. He has so far scored 332 runs in 15 T20Is this year at a strike rate of 171.13.

The returning Colombage took 10 wickets in six innings with an economy rate of 7.95. He made his domestic debut in 2019 and has taken 69 wickets at a strike rate of 13.7 in 48 T20s. Wanindu Hasaranga – who has had fitness concerns recently – will step-in for him in the spin bowling department.

The other sides were named as expected with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal returning to fitness following lay-off periods through injury.

Sri Lanka will play three T20Is and three ODIs against England, starting with the first T20I at Southampton on September 15.

ODI Squad: Sri Lanka vs England

Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis (c), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Sri Lanka T20I squad vs England

1. Pathum Nissanka 2. Kamil Mishara 3. Lahiru Udara 4. Kusal Mendis (c) 5. Kamindu Mendis 6. Charith Asalanka (vc) 7. Janith Liyanage 8. Dasun Shanaka 9. Dunith Wellalage 10. Wanindu Hasaranga 11. Maheesh Theekshana 12. Tharindu Rathnayake 13. Dushmantha Chameera 14. Eshan Malinga 15. Nuwan Thushara 16. Binura Fernando