Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have named a second-string men’s squad for Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Sahan Arachchige has been named captain. 30-year-old Arachchige will captain the Sri Lankan T20I side after a gap of three years.
Arachchige had captained Sri Lanka in the previous Asian Games as well. In the 2023 edition's quarterfinal, Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka, knocking them out of the tournament. Since then, Arachchige has not played a single T20I for Sri Lanka.
Only two players – Tharindu Rathnayake and Nuwan Thushara — for the T20I squad on England feature in the Asian Games 2026 squad as well. Binura Fernando, who was ruled out of the T20I series against England due to injury, will be returning to action.
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The squad features experienced players Chamika Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella. Dickwella's previous T20I appearance was against England in June 2021.
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Four uncapped players — Sineth Jayawardena, Sohan de Livera, Wanuja Sahan, and Garuka Sanketh – have been included in the squad as well.
Sri Lanka Asian Games 2026 squad -
Sahan Arachchige (c), Lasith Croospulle, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sineth Jayawardena, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sohan de Livera, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Ratnayake, Wanuja Sahan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Dushan Hemantha, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Garuka Sanketh.
Why Sri Lanka have named a second string squad for Asian Games 2026?
Sri Lanka’s prominent white-ball players are currently playing in the ODI series on England soil. The ODI series concludes on September 27 at Kennington Oval, London.
Sri Lanka have got a direct entry into the quarterfinal. Their quarterfinal match is scheduled to take on September 29. Their semifinal opponent is yet to be decided. SLC could’ve fielded a second-string squad in the final ODI of the series against England but they chose to send an underpowered squad for the Asian Games 2026.
On the contrary, the Sri Lankan women’s team reached the final of the Asian Games 2026. In the final, the Chamari Athapaththu-led Sri Lanka lost to Idnia by 147 runs and settled for a silver medal.
Do Sri Lanka men’s team have an Asian Games medal?
More than a decade ago, Sri Lanka men’s team had won the gold medal in Asian Games 2014 at Incheon, South Korea.
So far, men's cricket has been part of only three Asian Games edition (2010, 2014 and 2023) excluding the current one.