Shanaka replaces Asalanka as Sri Lanka captain for T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka have sacked Charith Asalanka as the T20I captain and appointed Dasun Shanaka in the role for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

"We decided that Dasun Shanaka should be captain until the end of the World Cup, after talking to head coach Sanath Jayasuriya as well," Sri Lanka Cricket chief selector Upul Tharanga Wickramasinghe said on Friday (December 19).

"The previous committee had chosen a list of 25 players. We spoke to Jerome Jayaratne, the head of high performance, as well as Sanath Jayasuriya. We decided to announce that same 25 as a preliminary squad for the World Cup."

Asalanka had led the side during the recently concluded tri-series in Pakistan before returning home due to illness, prompting Shanaka to step in as stand-in captain. The tour went ahead despite some members of the squad expressing safety concerns following a suicide bombing in Islamabad, which forced changes to match dates and venues.

Sri Lanka Cricket had also warned that any player or member of the support staff who returned home against its directives would be subject to a formal review, with appropriate action to be decided after the process concluded. In Asalanka's case, however, the return was due to illness, although the seriousness of the condition and whether it warranted a return home remain unclear.

Shanaka has been included in the World Cup squad, with selectors viewing him primarily as an all-rounder.

"We are looking at Dasun as an allrounder. We'll have to talk to Sanath Jayasuriya and work out what is required of him," Wickramasinghe added.

Sri Lanka preliminary World Cup squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Traveen Mathew