The islanders, led by Charith Asalanka, have quietly built a formidable unit combining top-order solidity with middle-order power and a spin attack tailor-made for UAE conditions.
'Very happy to contribute for the team. The wicket was very good and I tried to time the ball and hold my shape.'
KKR, CSK to engage in bidding war in IPL mini-auction with big purse in hand
Bangladesh pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win against Sri Lanka, chasing 169 with just one ball to spare in Dubai on Saturday.
Along with Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana among spin bowling options.
Ahead of the mini-auction, scheduled to be held in Doha on December 26, the 10 franchises have released their list of retained and released players.
Arshdeep Singh performing under pressure in the Super Over against Sri Lanka can be attributed to meditation and yoga that he practices regularly.
India pacer Arshdeep Singh linked his success in the Super Over against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super 4s match to his ability to nail the wide yorkers.
ri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka smashed a belligerent century as Indian bowlers endured their worst day in the Asia Cup before Arshdeep Singh produced a brilliant 'Super Over' to win the game for his side in Dubai on Friday.
Gujarat Titans on Thursday named Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement for injured New Zealand cricketer Glenn Phillips for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sri Lanka will look to build on their perfect start in Asia Cup when they take on a struggling Hong Kong in Dubai on Monday.
Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has asserted his side doesn't have a "mental block" against India after going down in the Super Over in Friday's Asia Cup match in Dubai.
Afghanistan will need to play with more flair and freedom in their must-win Asia Cup group match against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Sri Lanka ended on the wrong side of history, slumping to their second-lowest T20I total and lowest all-out total by a Test-playing nation against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at Harare on Saturday.
Pathum Nissanka (50) and Kamil Mishara (46 not out) made light work of a modest target to power Sri Lanka to a comfortable six-wicket win against Bangladesh.
Pakistan survived a wonderful spell from an enraged spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in an intense Super 4 match to stay alive in the Asia Cup, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of Asia Cup 2025.
Dasun Shanaka found himself in trouble after he allegedly faked concussion to skip a domestic match and play for Dubai Capitals in the ILT20.
Against Bangladesh, Samson wasn't even considered good enough to come inside the top seven of the line-up and that begs a question as to what is he doing in the team if he isn't good enough to come ahead of Axar Patel.
Joe Root has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Men's Test Batting Rankings after his stellar efforts helped England secure a 22-run victory over India at Lord's, according to the official website of the ICC.
Gujarat Titans will be aiming for a top-two spot even as Chennai Super Kings continue planning for the future when the two teams meet in the Indian Premier League match in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Gujarat Titans eye top-two finish as struggling LSG look to salvage pride
But in their pursuit of glory, both leaders must find a way to address the issues at hand.
An in-form Mumbai Indians will be out for revenge having lost to Gujarat Titans earlier in the season.
Shanaka sustained a right thigh muscle injury in Tuesday's six-wicket loss to Pakistan.
Sri Lanka are building a robust all-round Twenty20 side with a rich blend of youngsters and experienced players as they dream of winning the 2026 World Cup on home soil, former white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka has said.
Shaken by the abrupt suspension of their previous match due to the India-Pakistan conflict, a struggling Delhi Capitals will look to regroup and address bowling concerns when they face table-toppers Gujarat Titans in a reverse-leg IPL clash in Delhi on Sunday to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Dasun Shanaka produced a solid all-round performance, which included bowling figures of 4 for 23, as former champions Sri Lanka overcame some jittery moments to down Ireland by 41 runs in their T20 World Cup warm-up game in Lauderhill (USA) on Friday.
Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemantha back in Sri Lanka squad
De Silva and veteran Angelo Mathews were not included in the 16-man T20 squad but there was a place for Hasaranga.
Shanaka added that they would need to replicate their Super 4 performance against India if they wanted to have a chance of winning the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka have called up leg-spinning all-rounder Dushan Hemantha, while Chamika Karunaratne will be the travelling reserve player.
After Kane Williamson was ruled out of the entire season following his on-field injury, Gujarat Titans' named Dasun Shanaka as the Kiwis' replacement.
India's newly-forged coach-captain combination of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav will look to make instant impact against a Sri Lankan team in disarray.
Mathews made his T20 comeback for Sri Lanka in January after a three-year gap.
Hasaranga too is returning from a chronic heel pain on his left leg, which forced him to miss the ongoing IPL.
In overcast conditions, the ball swung both ways and after Jasprit Bumrah took out opener Kusal Perera for a duck, it was all Siraj thereafter.
The memorable moment unfolded in the 26th over of Sri Lanka's chase when Rohit Sharma, stationed at slip, executed a stunning catch to dismiss Sri Lankan Skipper Dasun Shanaka off Ravindra Jadeja's bowling.
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be eager to shake off modest ODI form and spate of injuries to key players as they seek to start their Asia Cup campaign on a winning note when they face each other in Pallekele on Thursday.
Sri Lanka were dealt another injury blow at the World Cup with seamer Lahiru Kumara ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a left thigh muscle injury.
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