Sri Lanka’s Asian Games squad
Sahan Arachchige (capt), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lasith Croospulle, Sineth Jayawardena, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sohan de Livera, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Ratnayake, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushan Hemantha, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Garuka SankethSri Lanka have opted for a blend of experience and emerging talent for the 2026 Asian Games men’s cricket competition, recalling Ashen Bandara and Niroshan Dickwella while handing maiden T20I call-ups to four players.
Sahan Arachchige will captain the 15-member squad, which includes several players outside Sri Lanka’s current first-choice T20I combination.
Bandara returns to the international set-up for the first time since 2023, while Dickwella’s recall marks his first T20I involvement since 2021. Their selections come despite modest returns in the 2026 Lanka Premier League, with Bandara scoring 28 runs in three matches for Colombo Kaps and Dickwella making 110 runs for Dambulla Sixers.
The selectors have also rewarded strong performances in the domestic Major Clubs T20 Tournament.
Sineth Jayawardena and Sohan de Livera, both left-handed top-order batters, earned their maiden T20I call-ups after finishing first and second respectively in the domestic tournament’s run charts. Jayawardena scored 372 runs at a strike rate of 167.56, including a spectacular 32-ball 82 in the final for Tamil Union.
De Livera accumulated 307 runs at 156.63.
Left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Wanuja Sahan also received his first call-up after an impressive LPL campaign. He took nine wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 6.30 and produced a match-winning 2 for 8 in the Eliminator.
Fast bowler Garuka Sanketh is another new face. Although he went wicketless in four LPL appearances, he claimed 11 wickets for Moors Sports Club in the Major Clubs T20 Tournament.
Legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, who narrowly missed selection for the England T20Is, returns after taking a tournament-leading 17 wickets in the domestic competition. Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Ratnayake and Dushan Hemantha also feature.
Sri Lanka have received direct qualification to the quarter-finals and will begin their campaign on September 29 in Nisshin. Arachchige also captained Sri Lanka at the previous Asian Games, where they lost their only match to Afghanistan.
