All-rounder Dasun Shanaka will lead a strong Sri Lankan side for the T20 World Cup, featuring key players including Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka.
The International Cricket Council has confirmed pacer Pramod Madushan as the replacement for Sri Lanka quick Eshan Malinga, who was ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup on home soil after dislocating his shoulder against England last week.
Sri Lanka didn't have the best of preparations for the T20 showpiece as they were whitewashed 0-3 by England in a home T20 series. Ireland will be led by veteran Paul Stirling and feature key players like Harry Tector and Josh Little.
Sri Lanka must improve their batting against slower bowlers when they face New Zealand in a crucial T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in Colombo, with both teams chasing their first win.
Mitchell Santner's all-round showing helped New Zealand recover from a poor start to crush Sri Lanka by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup Super 8s,
New Zealand reached the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals after Pakistan crashed out despite a victory against Sri Lanka in a Group Two Super Eights match in Pallekele on Saturday.
Pakistan's chances of reaching the T20 World Cup semifinals depend on a dominant win against Sri Lanka and a significant victory for England against New Zealand. The team's batting woes and reliance on individual performances pose a challenge.
Contrasting centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook powered England to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday to secure a 2-1 victory in the three-match ODI series.
Joe Root's all-round performance has helped England defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka but failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals due to a lower net run rate than New Zealand, who advanced from Group 2 alongside England.
Injury-hit Australia are considering including veteran Steve Smith to strengthen their batting line-up for the crucial T20 World Cup Group B match against Sri Lanka. Australia needs to win to secure a spot in the Super Eights after a defeat to Zimbabwe.
England and Sri Lanka prepare for a crucial Super Eight match in the T20 World Cup, with spin bowling expected to play a key role. England aims to replicate their recent series win in Sri Lanka, while the hosts seek to capitalize on home advantage.
Sri Lanka will need to address batting inconsistencies and adjust their bowling strategy in the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga as they prepare to face Oman in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B match.
Charith Asalanka's tenure as skipper of the Sri Lanka team was thrown into uncertainty after the southpaw came back home from Pakistan in the middle of the triangular series there.
Two senior players of the Sri Lankan cricket team, including skipper CharithAsalanka, currently touring Pakistan for a T20 tri-series will be returning home due to illness, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said on Monday.
NZ thrash SL by 61 runs to take one step closer to semis; Ravindra shines with 4/27
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title. The 10th edition of the 20-overs global showpiece event will run from February 7 to March 8.
Tournament co-hosts India will be out to defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in familiar home conditions next month.
Pathum Nissanka scored his seventh one-day international century with 122 from 136 balls as Sri Lanka defeated hosts Zimbabwe by five wickets to clinch the two-game series at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
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.
India and Bangladesh have two points each with Suryakumar Yadav's men leading the standings owing to a superior net run rate. Sri Lanka and Pakistan occupy the third and fourth spots respectively.
'Talat has done very well in domestic cricket. I know him for several years. He has been working really hard with his game, so I'm really happy for him.'
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.
'We had a great chance to chase 150 odd in the last game. But that's the nature of T20 cricket.'
In all the three group matches, Sri Lanka thrived while chasing and one would expect the Islanders to continue the same trend if they win the toss on Saturday.
Opener Pathum Nissanka struck 68 as Sri Lanka beat Hong Kong by four wickets in their Asia Cup match in Dubai on Monday.
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.
'I am really pleased with the performance. Almost a perfect game for us. The pacers did the job (but) only the last over went wrong for us.'
This is not the way we wanted to play, we have to do better than this: Asalanka
The replacement players will be available for Mumbai Indians only if they qualify for the play-offs.
In the final over, when the nerves jangled, it was Bangladesh who stayed composed and savoured the sweet taste of success. Sri Lanka's 8-match winning streak in the T20 Asia Cup came to a bitter end with this defeat.
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.
'There was a lot of humidity. My energy was low. At the end, we decided he (Nawaz) will go for the big shots and I would block. Hats off to Nawaz.'
Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka felt the first two overs bowled by pacers Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera set the platform for their commanding Asia Cup victory over Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan on Tuesday didn't mince words while criticising the "not so ideal" scheduling
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 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.
Felt like a final, Arshdeep was always my choice for Super Over: Surya
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.
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