The Sri Lankan team was unveiled on September 16, 2022, five days after the United Arab Emirates hosted the Asia Cup. They summoned up Lahiru Kumara and Dushmantha Chameera, who both suffered injuries that prevented them from competing in the Asia Cup. Dinesh Chandimal, Ashen Bandara, Nuwanidu Fernando, and Praveen Jayawickrama are the four guys who were in the Asia Cup team and have been named as standbys. The Sri Lankan team features a group of all-around players. Their main bowler Wanindu Hasaranga is also a more than capable down-the-order batsman, and captain Dasun Shanaka can bat or bowl at any point in the innings. A dangerous quartet is completed by Chamika Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva. Expected batsmen who made the cut include Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa—the last two of whom also serve as the team's wicketkeepers. Despite Charith Asalanka's underwhelming performance at the Asia Cup, the selectors expressed confidence in him. Along with Kumara, Chameera, and the all-rounders, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka, and Jeffrey Vandersay will create an excellent attack. Sri Lanka will have to compete in the First Round of the 2022 T20 World Cup despite winning the Asia Cup. At Kardinia Park in Geelong, they will take on Namibia on October 16, the UAE on October 18, and the Netherlands on October 20 in Group 1. From the group, two teams will move on to the next phase.
SQUAD
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Charith Asalanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Pathum Nissanka are the batters. Kusal Mendis and Bhanuka Rajapaksa are wicketkeepers. All-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dasun Shanaka (captain) Bowlers Dilshan Madushanka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Kumara, Pramod Madushan, and Dushmantha Chameer. Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Binura Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, and Praveen Jayawickrama are on standby.
PREDICTION
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Sri Lanka has had a year of two halves, having lost all three of their bilateral T20I series but bouncing back when the burden of the tournament was on them. After losing the first game of the series to Australia 3-0 in India, Sri Lanka lost the next two games of the series 4-1 in Australia and 2-1 at home. In the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka bounced back from their loss to Afghanistan to win three thrilling games in a row and remain unbeaten. The Lions' victory over Pakistan by 23 runs in the final was more conventional, giving them their first T20 Asia Cup and putting them in strong position for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2022. A person to watch is Pathum Nissanka. He scored 55 not out against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2022, his second consecutive T20I fifty after earlier making one against India, while ranking ninth in the batters' statistics. Nissanka will be looking for consistency after scoring over 70 once in each of the away series against Australia and India without going over fifty-five again in each. Shanaka, Sri Lanka's captain, sets an exemplary example, and his lower-order hitting was crucial to his team's victory in the Asia Cup. A person to watch is Pathum Nissanka. He scored 55 not out against Pakistan in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2022, his second consecutive T20I fifty after earlier making one against India, while ranking ninth in the batters' statistics. Nissanka will be looking for consistency after scoring over 70 once in each of the away series against Australia and India without going over fifty-five again in each. Shanaka, Sri Lanka's captain, sets an exemplary example, and his lower-order hitting was crucial to his team's victory in the Asia Cup.
T20 HISTORY OF BANGLADESH
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When Bangladesh hosted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2014, Sri Lanka just once found them at the top of the leaderboard, but they also dominate several important statistics. The Lions won the fifth iteration of the competition, defeating India, the tournaments first-ever champion, by six wickets. Prior to it, they had lost in the championship game twice, in 2009 and 2012, the year they previously served as hosts, with a semi-final appearance in between. Mahela Jayawardene is the only Sri Lankan to have scored a century in an ICC Men's T20, and he has amassed the most runs (1016) in the seven competitions. His runs have contributed to Sri Lanka's success rate of 63.95%, the greatest of any side that has played at least five games. 2021 was a successful tournament for Sri Lanka despite not making it to the knockout rounds. Wanindu Hasaranga led all bowlers with 16 wickets, the most ever in a single tournament. Charith Asalanka finished sixth in the charts with 231 runs at an average of 46.20, and he and Hasaranga were also named as the Most Valuable Team of the Tournament.
