Will Wanindu Hasaranga Play In Asia Cup 2025:The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has revealed their 16-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025; however, they could be weakened if their main man, Wanindu Hasaranga, doesn’t get fit in time for the tournament.
This year’s premier Asian continental competition will be played in the UAE, with BCCI retaining the hosting rights. The Asia Cup 2025 will be conducted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28. The tournament is in T20I format, giving the teams a chance to fine-tune their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka in February-March next year.
Eight teams are participating in this year’s Asia Cup and are divided into two groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four round, and the top two from there will clash in the final.
Sri Lanka are in Group B, which is being called the group of death in this year’s Asia Cup, as it also includes Afghanistan, who reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka won the 2022 Asia Cup by beating Pakistan in the final in Dubai. They were then led by Dasun Shanaka. However, the Islanders lost the Asia Cup champions title in the 2023 Asia Cup, losing the final to India in Colombo.
Now, they have a new skipper in Charith Asalanka, under whom Sri Lanka have done well in Asian conditions, including beating India in the ODI series last year. Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne are the pace-bowling all-rounders in the squad.
Sri Lanka’s key men at the top over the last three years have been Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, while the explosive Kusal Perera has held onto his position.
The main worry for the Lankans is the fitness of their biggest match-winner, Hasaranga.
Will Wanindu Hasaranga Play In Asia Cup 2025?
Hasaranga has been included in Sri Lanka’s squad for the Asia Cup, but his participation is subject to fitness clearance. The leg-spinning all-rounder is recovering from a hamstring injury that he picked up during the series against Bangladesh.
Hasaranga has been omitted from Sri Lanka’s T20I series against Zimbabwe, but the management and selectors are optimistic about his availability for the Asia Cup.
Sri Lanka are stacked in both pace and spin options for the Asia Cup. The pace attack has Dushmantha Chameera as its leader, in support of Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, and Binura Fernando.
Sri Lanka’s three key spinners in the squad are Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana, with Kamindu Mendis, Nuwanidu Fernando, and Kamil Mishara providing part-time assistance.
Senior cricketers Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, and Jeffrey Vandersay have been left out from the squad that played against Bangladesh, while Angelo Mathews has been ignored.
Sri Lanka will kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 13 against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi and then take on Hong Kong on September 15 in Dubai before returning to Abu Dhabi to meet Afghanistan on September 18.
Sri Lanka squad for Asia Cup 2025:
Charith Asalanka (c), Kusal Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Kusal Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
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