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Sri Lanka Squad For England Tour: Shanaka Returns, Udara Recalled
The Sri Lanka squad for the England white-ball tour keeps Kusal Mendis as captain in both formats, with Charith Asalanka named vice-captain. Dasun Shanaka returns to the one-day side for the first time since January 2024. Uncapped leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage is the other new name. Sri Lanka play three T20Is from 15 September and three ODIs from 22 September.
Both squads carry 16 players. Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga feature in each. So do Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera and Eshan Malinga.
Shanaka back in the fifty-over side
Shanaka has not played an ODI since January 2024, according to Cricket Times. He has 71 caps in the format. He captained Sri Lanka on 43 occasions. His ODI batting average is 22.39. He is 34.
Shanaka and Colombage replace Milan Rathnayake and Pramod Madushan, Cricket Times reported. That pair were in the squad that won a rain-hit three-match series against West Indies 1-0 in June. Colombage is yet to play international cricket. He is a leg-spinner. Sri Lanka already carry Hasaranga and Theekshana in that department.
Udara and Asalanka rewarded for the LPL
Asalanka missed the previous T20I assignment, against West Indies. He then made 385 runs for Galle Gallants in the Lanka Premier League. He averaged 38.50. His strike rate was 153.38. He hit four half-centuries. Galle won the title. The figures come from Cricket Times.
Lahiru Udara finished as the LPL's leading run-scorer with 434. His only previous T20I came at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. That was three years ago. Janith Liyanage is also in the T20I group. So is ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake.
Six matches at six grounds
The tour is six matches long. England confirmed the fixtures as part of their 2026 home international season. The schedule runs:
- First T20I, 15 September, Southampton
- Second T20I, 17 September, Cardiff
- Third T20I, 19 September, Manchester
- First ODI, 22 September, Chester-le-Street
- Second ODI, Leeds
- Third ODI, The Oval
Cricket Times listed Leeds and The Oval as the venues for the second and third ODIs without giving dates for them.
The two squads in full
Twelve players appear in both groups. Four are picked for the ODIs alone: Pavan Rathnayake, Colombage, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka. Four are T20I specialists on this trip. They are Udara, Tharindu Rathnayake, Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando.
ODI squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
T20I squad: Kusal Mendis (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando.