Captains Shanaka, Agha Lead Sri Lanka, Pakistan in World Cup Preparations
The upcoming men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is just a month away. To prepare, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are engaged in a three-match T20I series. Both teams will conduct their group and Super Eights stages in Sri Lanka, provided they qualify for the latter. If Pakistan advances, they will likely continue to play on Sri Lankan grounds, raising the possibility of a semifinal or final match hosted there. However, the exact locations for the knockout stages remain uncertain.
Team Leadership and Performance
Pakistan, under the captaincy of Salman Agha, recently triumphed in a home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Their last encounter saw Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka convincingly in Rawalpindi, where they restricted Sri Lanka to just 114 runs.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka is navigating through a challenging phase. Charith Asalanka, the previous captain, was sent home due to illness, leaving Dasun Shanaka at the helm. Despite recent struggles, Shanaka has shown promise, previously leading the team to victory in a T20I Asia Cup in 2022.
Recent Form and Squad Updates
- Sri Lanka’s last five T20I results: LWWLL
- Pakistan’s last five T20I results: WLWWW
The series, taking place in Dambulla, will help both teams solidify their form ahead of the World Cup. Dambulla is known for its batting-friendly conditions, though occasional showers may occur during this period. Sri Lanka has hinted at the possible return of Dhananjaya de Silva to the shortest format, while Pakistan’s Shadab Khan is also set to make his comeback after recovering from shoulder surgery.
Expected Line-ups
| Sri Lanka | Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | Sahibzada Farhan |
| Kamil Mishara | Saim Ayub |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | Fakhar Zaman |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | Salman Agha (capt) |
| Kusal Perera | Usman Khan (wk) |
| Dasun Shanaka (capt) | Mohammad Nawaz |
| Janith Liyanage | Shadab Khan |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Faheem Ashraf |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Mohammad Wasim |
| Nuwan Thushara | Salman Mirza |
| Eshan Malinga/Dushan Hemantha | Abrar Ahmed |
With high-stakes matches ahead, the two captains, Dasun Shanaka and Salman Agha, will need to perform effectively to guide their teams through a demanding campaign. Their performances in this series could set the tone for their respective World Cup journeys.
