Sri Lanka Cricket’s Selection Committee has announced a 15-member squad for the Asian Games 2026, with Sahan Arachchige appointed captain of the side. The team will travel to Japan on September 24 ahead of the 10-team T20I competition, which will be held from September 24 to October 3 at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.

Sri Lanka have earned direct qualification to the quarterfinals and will begin their campaign on September 29. The squad features a combination of experienced players and fringe members of the national setup, with the selectors making several changes from the group that recently featured in the T20I series against England.

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka in Japan

Arachchige has been handed the captaincy for Sri Lanka’s Asian Games campaign, with the all-rounder set to lead a side containing several players looking to establish themselves in the T20I setup. Niroshan Dickwella has also returned to the squad as the wicketkeeper after being away from Sri Lanka’s T20I setup for five years. Ashen Bandara is another experienced name making his return after a three-year absence.

His inclusion adds further experience to a batting group that also contains Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando and Sohan de Livera. The selectors have also handed maiden T20I call-ups to De Livera, Sineth Jayawardena, Wanuja Sahan and Garuka Sanketh. The tournament will give the four players an opportunity to make their international debuts in a major multi-sport event.

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Sri Lanka make several changes after England T20I series

The Asian Games squad is markedly different from the side that recently toured England for a three-match T20I series. Sri Lanka lost all three matches, with England completing a 3-0 sweep after an eight-wicket victory at Old Trafford on September 19. Only Nuwan Thushara and Tharindu Ratnayake have been selected in both squads. Charith Asalanka captained Sri Lanka in England after originally selected captain Kusal Mendis and seamer Binura Fernando were ruled out through injury. Fernando has since recovered and returns to the squad for the Asian Games.

The squad also includes Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, with the latter providing a specialist leg-spin option. Sri Lanka will be aiming to return to the podium after missing out on a medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. They previously won bronze in 2010 before claiming gold in 2014.

Sri Lanka squad for Asian Games 2026: Sahan Arachchige (c), Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sineth Jayawardena, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sohan de Livera, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Ratnayake, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushan Hemantha, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Garuka Sanketh

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