Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka believes his team will draw confidence from being the defending champions in the T20 format of the Asia Cup as they prepare to face Bangladesh in their opening match on Saturday.Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka believes his team’s memories of winning the last T20 Asia Cup will help them start strong this year. Speaking before their opening match against Bangladesh, Charith Asalanka said the players are carrying the confidence of champions into the tournament.
As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, they are defending champions at this year’s Asia Cup. The case they are making is that the ODI version of the Asia Cup – which India last won in 2023 – is a different tournament entirely.
The tournament alternates between the two white-ball formats based on which World Cup is around the corner. In 2023, it was the 50-over World Cup. In 2025, it is the T20 World Cup. And as far as the T20I version of the Asia Cup goes, Sri Lanka are the most-recent victors, having taken the title in 2022.
SL under Charith Asalanka has a team blend with youth and experience
Led by Charith Asalanka, the islanders have shaped a formidable team, blending top-order stability with middle-order firepower and a spin attack well-suited to UAE conditions.
The top order is being led by Nissanka and a lot of eyes will be on him, especially against an opponent that cannot be discounted.Only Perera and Kusal Mendis have 2000-plus runs in T20Is for Sri Lanka, with Nissanka fast approaching the milestone.At the moment, Nissanka has 1950 runs in 67 matches at an average of 30.46, although his strike rate of 123.1 is not impressive. Nissanka, Mendis, and Perera anchor the top order, while Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, and Kamindu Mendis bolster the middle with depth and finishing prowess.
Sri Lanka have brought back middle-order batter Janith Liyanage, marking his T20I return after a three-year absence. Liyanage, fresh off a match-winning 70* in the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe, strengthens Sri Lanka’s pool of seam-bowling all-rounders alongside Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne.
The latter has a chance to go past former off-spinner Sachitra Senanayake in the list of most T20I wicket-takers for Sri Lanka. Karunarate has 24 wickets, while the former had 25. Former pacer Isuru Udana had 27 wickets.
The team gains a major boost with the return of star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, fit again after a hamstring injury. He is the highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in T20Is, with 131 wickets in 77 matches at an impressive economy of 6.98. On the sluggish UAE pitches, Sri Lanka’s spin trio of Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage could be key, with slingy pacer Matheesha Pathirana adding variety to the attack.
Sri Lanka squad for Asia Cup: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said his players are drawing on their 2022 Asia Cup victory as motivation for their upcoming campaign. They won the T20I edition of the tournament, while India won the more recent ODI version of the competition in 2023.
We are defending champions- Charith Asalanka
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka believes his team will draw confidence from being the defending champions in the T20 format of the Asia Cup as they prepare to face Bangladesh in their opening match on Saturday.
“Mentally, the fact that we are defending champions is a really good thing,” Charith Asalanka said ahead of the clash in Abu Dhabi.
“Many of the players who featured in the last edition are here as well. We know that being champions gives us the belief to go far, and the players are using that as motivation.”
The Asia Cup alternates between the two white-ball formats depending on the upcoming ICC World Cup. While India lifted the ODI Asia Cup in 2023 ahead of the 50-over World Cup, Sri Lanka remain holders of the T20I crown, having clinched the title in 2022.Charith Asalanka also expressed optimism about conditions in Abu Dhabi, suggesting they could benefit batters more than typical pitches at home in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.
“When you compare these conditions with other venues in the UAE, I think Abu Dhabi is the best pitch for batting,” he said.
“Once the ball gets softer it’s much easier to play here, and the outfield is excellent. Every batsman wants to bat in Abu Dhabi.”
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are no strangers to each other this year. The two sides have already played three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests in 2025, with Sri Lanka winning the ODI and Test series, while Bangladesh took the T20I series. Having started with a win over Hong Kong, Bangladesh could almost assure themselves of a place in the Super 4 with victory at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
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