Colombo, July 23, 2025 — Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket setup is set for a major shake-up following a 2-1 home series defeat to Bangladesh. The loss marked Sri Lanka’s first-ever T20I series defeat to their South Asian rivals. Chairman of Selectors Upul Tharanga admitted the team had underperformed and stressed the need for immediate changes.
“We’ve been too inconsistent with the bat,” Tharanga told Telecom Asia Sport. “It’s time to bring in fresh blood.” The team collapsed for 94 in Dambulla and scored only 132 in the series decider in Colombo. These back-to-back failures shocked fans and exposed major issues in the middle order.
Tharanga acknowledged Sri Lanka’s T20 side is not progressing like the Test and ODI squads. With the 2026 T20 World Cup approaching, he believes Sri Lanka must act quickly. He is looking at players who bring hunger, energy, and composure under pressure.
Young domestic talents Nuwanidu Fernando and Pawan Rathnayake are top contenders for future selection. Both have consistently impressed in domestic tournaments and are now pushing for national roles. “They’ve earned their chances,” said Tharanga.
Another name under review is Janith Liyanage, who has performed well in ODIs at number six. Selectors are now evaluating him for a similar position in T20s. Tharanga believes Liyanage has the temperament to stabilize innings during crunch situations.
As expectations grow ahead of the home World Cup, Sri Lanka’s selectors must deliver a team that can perform consistently on the global stage. With time running short, the T20 rebuild begins now.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE