Sri Lanka’s Triumph in Asia Cup 2022 has meant that they are back to winning ways. But once again they are going to play in the Qualifiers; in the last edition, they were unbeaten in the 2021 Qualifiers and had won two matches in the Super 12 stage. Since the conclusion of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, Sri Lanka played 17 T20Is and won 7 out of them (5 came in Asia Cup)
Squad: Dasun Shanka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera (Subject to fitness), Lahiru Kumara (subject to fitness), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan.
Standby Players: Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrema, Dinesh Chandimal, Binura Fernando, Nuwaindu Fernando
Strengths
Sri Lankan Cricket Team has a very long batting lineup. Their recently adopted ultra-aggressive approach has been quite fruitful. Dasun Shanaka has been phenomenal while leading the side and there are chances that he may come up the order just to provide the stability to the line-up. The peculiarity of Sri Lanka is that they are not reliant on a single individual to perform.
Weaknesses
Sri Lanka’s armory is spin bowling but not won’t be a huge factor in Australia. There are injury concerns for their star bowlers: Dushmantha Chameera & Lahiru Kumara; if these two won’t be available for selection then Sri Lanka would be in Deep Trouble as trusting youngsters for the mega event can prove to be quite risky.
Fixtures
16th October: Sri Lanka vs Namibia at Geelong at 09:30 IST
18th October: Sri Lanka vs UAE at Geelong at 13:30 IST
20th October: Sri Lanka vs the Netherlands at Geelong at 09:30 IST
Chances
Sri Lanka should not get complacent as the conditions in Australia would be completely different. It won’t be a surprise if Sri Lanka once again thrashes the teams in Qualifiers because they have that fire in their eyes. The Island Nation has got all the traits to feature in the mega event.
Former Sri Lanka Captain Mahela Jayawardene has backed Sri Lanka to win the marquee event. Sri Lanka could be the unexpected ghost. Head Coach Chris Silverwood knows the conditions of Australia quite well as he was a part of the Ashes 2021-22 Series as the Head Coach of England.