Sri Lanka Men’s Cricket Squad for Asian Games 2026
Leave for Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka’s second string T20I team led by Sahan Arachchige left for Nishshin, Japan yesterday to participate in the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition with the hope of winning a Gold medal for the country.
Sri Lanka has gained direct entry to the quarter-final and will be aiming to do better than at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023 where they lost their quarter-final game to Afghanistan and had to return home empty handed. Arachchige was at the helm on that occasion and he should know better.
Besides him Arachchige has five others who were members of the 2023 Asian Games squad – Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Viyaskanth Vijayakanth and Nuwan Thushara.
“Our target is to reach the final and win Gold for the country,” said Arachchige prior to the team’s departure yesterday.
“The national teams of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will offer a good challenge. India especially has a good side, but we are ready to face the challenge. We want to play well and win for the country.”
Arachchige said that his team was a blend of youth and experience.
“It’s a good combination of players that I have. Players who have done well in the LPL and the Major T20. There are some newcomers as well as experienced hands.”
“Our coaches and support staff have been in touch with our women cricketers who played their matches before us. They said the wickets were a bit on the slow side because Japan is not a cricket playing nation and that it will help spin,” said Arachchige.
Sri Lanka has until 29 September to get acclimatized to the wickets and conditions in Japan before they play their quarter-final game against an opponent which will be decided after the first round of matches are completed.
Sri Lanka will be hoping that their second string squad will perform better than the senior side which was whitewashed 3-0 by England in the recently concluded T20I series.
Squad: Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sineth Jayawardena, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sahan Arachchige (Captain), Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Hasanka, Wanuja Sahan, Viyaskanth Vijayakanth, Dushan Hemantha, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Sohan de Livera, Tharanga Paranavithana (manager), Ashan Priyanjan (Head Coach), Anusha Samaranayake (Fast Bowling Coach), Upul Chandana (Spin Bowling Coach), Ajantha Kumara (Physiotherapist).
