Sri Lanka T20 captain Dasun Shanaka has underlined the balancing act his side must strike as they head into their final international assignment before next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with a three-match home series against England starting on Friday.
With the World Cup looming large, Shanaka made it clear that selections for the England series are as much about preparation and protection as they are about immediate results. Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, one of Sri Lanka’s most potent white-ball weapons, will remain central to those plans.
“Dushmantha Chameera will definitely be included in the squad. However, since the World Cup is approaching, his workload needs to be managed,” Shanaka said, signalling a cautious approach rather than a fitness gamble at the pre series press conference at the Pallekele Stadium. “There is no need to specifically test Chameera’s abilities, but the team requires a backup player, which is why Pramod (Madushan) has been brought in.”
That philosophy reflects Sri Lanka’s broader thinking ahead of the global tournament. Rather than overexposing key players, the focus is on depth, adaptability and having like-for-like replacements ready should the demands of the World Cup take their toll.
The same thinking applies to the batting group, where experience and flexibility are seen as crucial assets. Shanaka highlighted the continued importance of Kusal Janith Perera, despite his absence from the playing XI in the previous series.
“Kusal Janith has been with the side for a while, though there was no opportunity to play him in the last series,” Shanaka explained. “Despite this, the importance of having experienced players for the World Cup is well-known.”
More significantly, the skipper believes Kusal Janith’s role can be adapted to suit the demands of modern T20 cricket. “In terms of strike rate, Kusal Janith can be utilized in positions up to number six while maintaining a high scoring rate, which will be very useful during the tournament,” he said, pointing to the left-hander’s potential as a flexible middle-order option rather than a fixed top-order presence.
Sri Lanka’s selection continuity was also evident in Shanaka’s comments on Dhananjaya de Silva, who impressed in the previous series with his all-round contributions. “Dhananjaya de Silva played in the previous series and performed very well, contributing in bowling, batting (scoring over 20 runs), and fielding,” Shanaka noted.
Removing such a player after a strong showing was never seriously considered. “It is difficult to remove a player abruptly after a good performance, as they should be given further opportunities. This was a decision made by the selectors,” he said, reinforcing the message that performances will be backed rather than discarded.
The squad depth is further strengthened by the inclusion of Pavan Rathnayake, who has been named as a backup option. According to Shanaka, the management’s intention is clear. “The management intends to use these players wisely and strategically.”
As Sri Lanka take on England in their final tune-up before the World Cup, the series is shaping up less as a trial by fire and more as a carefully managed rehearsal — one where form, fitness and foresight all carry equal weight.
