Sri Lanka aiming for 2026 T20 World Cup glory, says Shanaka
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is building a formidable all-round T20 team, blending youthful talent with experienced players, as they dream of winning the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Former white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka, who led Sri Lanka to the 2022 T20 Asia Cup title, voiced his optimism about the team’s future.
Shanaka, who was replaced by Wanindu Hasaranga as captain after Sri Lanka’s poor performance in recent white-ball tournaments, believes the team is on the right path. Although Hasaranga couldn’t take the team beyond the group stage in this year’s T20 World Cup, Shanaka sees promise ahead of the 2026 edition, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
“We are building a very good team. Players like Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and some emerging all-rounders are coming through the ranks,” Shanaka told Reuters.
Despite their failure to reach the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive time, Sri Lanka’s focus remains on nurturing their mix of youth and experience in hopes of reclaiming the T20 crown on home turf.(Reuters)