Sri Lanka announce 15-member squad for Asian Games 2026, 3 players face the heat

Sri Lanka’s 15-player contingent for the upcoming Asian Games will maintain a core group of players from their recent Women’s Asia Cup campaign, captained once again by veteran star Chamari Athapaththu. However, the squad features four notable omissions from the previous roster, including Vishmi Gunaratne, Chetana Vimukthi, Dewmi Vihanga, and Nilakshika Silva—the latter having finished as the third-highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup, behind only India's Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana.

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Sri Lanka reveal Asian Games squad with surprising exits and entries

Among the other dropped players, Vimukthi featured in three matches during the continental tournament, claiming three wickets. Meanwhile, Gunaratne was included in two fixtures, taking the field for the championship final where Sri Lanka eventually fell to a 72-run defeat against India.

These squad adjustments pave the way for the returns of Rashmika Sewwandi and Nimasha Meepage—both of whom featured against Pakistan in August before Meepage missed out on Asia Cup selection—alongside Hansima Karunaratne and Anushka Sanjeewani. For keeper-batter Sanjeewani, this marks her first return to the international T20 format since Sri Lanka's series against New Zealand in March 2025.

The team’s pursuit of continental glory begins September 18, 2026, when they face Malaysia Women in the third quarter-final at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

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Sri Lanka enters the Asian Games seeking redemption after a mixed Asia Cup run. During that campaign, they dominated Group B with an undefeated record and triumphed over Pakistan in the semi-finals, before suffering a decisive defeat in the final against India.

The lineup boasts a strong foundation of veteran talent, with established international figures such as Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Sugandika Kumari, and Anushka Sanjeewani all named in the roster.

Sri Lanka’s quest for a medal officially gets underway on September 18, when they take on Malaysia in their opening fixture of the Asian Games.

Sri Lanka Women’s squad for Asian Games 2026:

Chamari Athapaththu, Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Hansima Karunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Nimasha Meepage, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Rashmika Sewwandi, Chamudi Praboda, Mithali Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi