Asalanka’s return to Sri Lanka’s T20I side – and leadership group – comes on the back of a stellar Lanka Premier League season, where he struck 385 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.38. He was also Player of the Match in the final, helping Galle Gladiators to their first LPL title win with his 3 for 20.
Udara’s inclusion in the T20I side comes after his own LPL season, where he was the standout batter of the season with 434 runs across nine innings, at a strike rate of 159.55. He scored five fifty-plus scores and topped the boundary charts.
Liyanage had been on the fringes of the national team and impressed during the LPL, scoring 207 runs across nine innings. Of compatriots to have played in the tournament this season, only Shanaka (180.15) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (182.55) scored at a higher strike rate than Liyanage’s 169.67, from at least as many games.
Tharindu’s inclusion is less obvious, having picked up only seven wickets across eight innings at an economy rate of 8.36 across the LPL. However, his domestic T20 record fares better, with 92 wickets across 77 innings at an economy of 6.50. He also provides an ambidextrous option to Sri Lanka, bowling left-arm and right-arm spin with equal control.
On the other hand, Karunaratne was unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the T20I squad. He struck an impressive 253 runs at 157.14, and had been a key part of Galle’s charge to the title. Pavan also misses out despite having a breakout year, when he entered the white-ball fold during England’s tour of Sri Lanka at the start of 2026, before producing some match-winning hands during the T20 World Cup. However, he has been left out because of the underwhelming tour of the West Indies – where he scored just five runs across three matches – that followed.
The changes to the ODI side are more minor in comparison, with the return of Shanaka being the headline alongside Colombage’s potential debut. Milan and Pramod Madushan have been omitted.
Shanaka, 34, played the last of his 71 ODIs against Zimbabwe in January 2024, after which he was dropped following an ignominious 2023 where he averaged 8.83 across 13 innings. However, he makes his return to the ODI side after his white-ball stocks have risen because his T20 performances. In his two-year-and-a-half-year long absence, Sri Lanka have also struggled to replace Shanaka’s hitting prowess lower down the order. This year, he has struck 332 runs in 15 T20Is at a strike rate of 171.13.
The returning Colombage picked up 10 wickets across six innings at an economy rate of 7.95. He debuted domestically in 2019, and his 48 T20s have fetched 69 wickets at a strike rate of 13.7. He will deputise for Wanindu Hasaranga – whose fitness has not been guaranteed as of late – in the spin bowling line-up.
The rest of the squads were named as expected, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal fit again after their lay-off periods through injury.
Sri Lanka will play three T20Is and three ODIs in England, starting with the first T20I in Southampton on September 15.
Sri Lanka tour to England
ODI squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis (c), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
T20I squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (c), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vc), Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando.
