SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2026

SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS
(SEPTEMBER 2026)
Compiled by Victor Melder

Charith Asalanka has been made part of Sri Lanka‘s leadership group once more, three months after being deposed as ODI captain and six months on after being sidelined from the T20 unit. He will be vice-captain of the ODI and T20I sides for Sri Lanka’s tour of England in September. Former vice-captain Kamindu Mendis has been retained in both squads, while Kusal Mendis will continue to captain both white-ball sides. Dasun Shanaka returns to the ODI side for the first time since January 2024, while the selectors have called up legspinner Sachindu Colombage for the first time as well. Asalanka’s inclusion is one of four changes to Sri Lanka’s T20I side, with Lahiru Udara, Janith Liyanage and Tharindu Ratnayake being drafted in as well. Pavan Rathnayake, Lasith Croospulle, Milan Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka have been left out of the T20I side. This time last year, Asalanka had been captain of both white-ball units. However a combination of poor form and his hesitance to play on during Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan last year – citing security concerns – led to his ouster as T20I captain. While Asalanka remains an important player in Sri Lanka’s ODI set-up, he was removed from the T20I side altogether after the World Cup in February this year. Asalanka’s return to Sri Lanka’s T20I side – and leadership group – comes on the back of a stellar Lanka Premier League season, where he struck 385 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.38. He was also Player of the Match in the final, helping Galle Gladiators to their first LPL title win with his 3 for 20. Udara’s inclusion in the T20I side comes after his own LPL season, where he was the standout batter of the season with 434 runs across nine innings, at a strike rate of 159.55. He scored five fifty-plus scores and topped the boundary charts.Liyanage had been on the fringes of the national team and impressed during the LPL, scoring 207 runs across nine innings. Of compatriots to have played in the tournament this season, only Shanaka (180.15) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (182.55) scored at a higher strike rate than Liyanage’s 169.67, from at least as many games. Tharindu’s inclusion is less obvious, having picked up only seven wickets across eight innings at an economy rate of 8.36 across the LPL. However, his domestic T20 record fares better, with 92 wickets across 77 innings at an economy of 6.50. He also provides an ambidextrous option to Sri Lanka, bowling left-arm and right-arm spin with equal control.On the other hand, Karunaratne was unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the T20I squad. He struck an impressive 253 runs at 157.14, and had been a key part of Galle’s charge to the title. Pavan also misses out despite having a breakout year, when he entered the white-ball fold during England’s tour of Sri Lanka at the start of 2026, before producing some match-winning hands during the T20 World Cup. However, he has been left out because of the underwhelming tour of the West Indies – where he scored just five runs across three matches – that followed. The rest of the squads were named as expected, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal fit again after their lay-off periods through injury. Sri Lanka will play three T20Is and three ODIs in England, starting with the first T20I in Southampton on September 15.

Sri Lanka tour to England

ODI squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vc), Kusal Mendis (c), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.

T20I squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (c), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vc), Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando. (Crcinfo, 2.9.2026)

The Sri Lanka National Men’s Team will tour Pakistan in October and November 2026. During the tour, Sri Lanka will first play a T20I series against Pakistan. This will be followed by a tri-nation One Day International (ODI) series featuring Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England. The tour will conclude with a two-match Test series played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

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England beat the touring Sri Lankans by 119 runs in the first T2 played at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. Scores:

England – 254/4 in 20 Overs (Brook 114no, Butler 80, Hasaranga 1.34, Malinga 1/41)

Sri Lanka – 135 in 19Overs (Wellalage 33, Shanaka 24, Baker 3/12, Overton 2/20, Dawson 2.23)

Player of the match: Harry Butler (England)

T20 Debut: Aneurin Donald (UK)

England beat the touring Sri Lankans by 6 wickets in the second T2 played at Sophia Gardens,  Cardiff.. Scores:

Sri Lanka – 145/9 in 20 Overs (Nissanka 37, Asalanka 31, Hasaranga 27, Dawson 3/32, Overton 2/23, Archers 2/34

England – 146/4 in 12.1 Overs (Banton 52no, Butler 30, Malinga 1/27, Chameera 1/29)

Player of the match: Liam Dawson (England)

T20 Debut: Tharinda Ratnayake (Sri Lanka)

England beat the touring Sri Lankans  by 8 wickets in the third T20 played at Old Trafford, Manchester. Scores:

Sri Lanka – 124 in 18.5 Overs (Nissanka 36, Kamindu Mendis 35, Baer 2/17, Archer 2/2, Jacks 2/31)

England – 126/2 in 9.4 Overs (Butler 62no, Brook 33, Ratnayake 1/28)

England won the 3-match series 3-0.

Plyer of the match: Sonny Baker (Engand)

Player of the series: Harry Brook (England) 

Minister of Sport Sunil Kumara Gamage has acknowledged that some of Sri Lanka’s current cricketers are not meeting the required standards, stressing that the long‑standing problems in the sport must be addressed from the grassroots level. Responding to questions from reporters, the Minister said that appointing strong committees or implementing sound plans alone will not revive cricket unless the country produces quality players.  “Without good cricketers we cannot take the sport forward. Our focus must be on developing players from the bottom,” he noted. Gamage emphasized that the lack of consistent standards among certain members of the current squad highlights the need for a comprehensive development programme starting at school and district levels. He added that the issue has persisted for years and requires urgent reform to ensure Sri Lanka can regain its competitive edge internationally. (Newswire, 22.9.2026)

Niroshan Dickwella earned a call-up to Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for the first time in half a decade as the country’s cricket board announced the squad for the Asian Games men’s cricket competition on Tuesday. Ashen Bandara also returned to the squad after three years, with the two bringing their experience to the Aichi-Nagoya Games this time around. Sohan de Livera, Sineth Jayawardena, Wanuja Sahan and Garuka Sanketh received their maiden T20I call-ups, with Sahan Arachchige named captain of the side. Sri Lanka earned a direct qualification to the Asian Games quarterfinals, and will open its campaign in Nissin on September 29. Sri Lanka Asian Games squad: Sahan Arachchige (c), Sohan de Livera, Wanuja Sahan, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ashen Bandara, Dushan Hemantha, Lasith Croospulle, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Thushara, Sineth Jayawardena, Tharindu Ratnayake, Binura Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Garuka Sanketh. (Daily Mirror, 23.9.2026)

England beat the touring Sri Lankans  by 89 runs in the first ODI  played at Riverside Grounds, Chester-le-street, .Old Trafford, Manchester. Scores:

England – 265 in 481 Overs (Brook 67, Jacks 46no, Root 44, Duckett 32, Colombage 3/44, A. Fernando 3/520

Sri Lanka – 176 in  38 Overs (Wellalage 45, Kusal Mendis 42, Jacks 5/20, Overton 2/21)

Player of the Match: Will Jack (England)

ODI Debut:  Sachindu Colombage (Sri Lanka), Graham Lloyd (England)     

The touring Sri Lankans beat England by 16 runs in the second ODI, played at Headingly, Leeds. Scores:

Sri Lanka – 321/6 in 50 Overs (Kusal Mendis 121, Kumindu  Mendia 54, Rathnayake 45, Ahemd 2/48, Atkinson 2/55)

England – 305/9 in 50 Overs (Bnton 73, Buttler 69, Duckett 67, Jacks 52, Wellalage 3/49, Malinga 2/50, Madushanka 2/54).

Player of the match: Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka)

England beat the touring Sri Lankans by 223 runs in the third and final ODI, played at Kennington Oval, London. Scores:  England – 355/7 in 50 Overs (Banton 126, Brook 77, Cox 76 A. Fernando 3/64, Colombage 2/71) Sri Lanka – 135 in 29.1 Overs (Kusal Mendis 35, Dawson 3/26, Atkinson 2/26) England won the 3-match series, 2-1.Player of the match: Tom Banton (England) Player of the series: Will Jacks (England)

Dasun Shanaka returns to the ODI side on the back of his allround credentials in T20s this year•AFP/Getty ImaThe changes to the ODI side are more minor in comparison, with the return of Shanaka being the headline alongside Colombage’s potential debut. Milan and Pramod Madushan have been omittedShanaka, 34, played the last of his 71 ODIs against Zimbabwe in January 2024, after which he was dropped following an ignominious 2023 where he averaged 8.83 across 13 innings. However, he makes his return to the ODI side after his white-ball stocks have risen because his T20 performances. In his two-year-and-a-half-year long absence, Sri Lanka have also struggled to replace Shanaka’s hitting prowess lower down the order. This year, he has struck 332 runs in 15 T20Is at a strike rate of 171.13The returning Colombage picked up 10 wickets across six innings at an economy rate of 7.95. He debuted domestically in 2019, and his 48 T20s have fetched 69 wickets at a strike rate of 13.7. He will deputise for Wanindu Hasaranga – whose fitness has not been guaranteed as of late – in the spin bowling line-up.Sri Lanka will be without Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando for the upcoming T20I series against England, as both players continue rehabilitation following injuries sustained during the Lanka Premier League 2026. Mendis is recovering from a right hamstring injury, while Fernando is undergoing rehabilitation for a back injury.  Following the latest medical updates, the Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Panel has made two changes to the T20I squad. Pavan Rathnayake has been named as Mendis’ replacement, while Dilshan Madushanka has been brought into the squad in place of Binura Fernando. With Mendis unavailable for the series, Charith Asalanka will captain Sri Lanka in the T20I matches against England. (Daily Mirror, 4.9.2026)Sri Lanka Cricket RTI status has now been formally accepted, removing a major obstacle that previously prevented the public from seeking information about the administration of the cricket body. Sri Lanka Cricket has acknowledged that it falls within the scope of the Right to Information Act. The previous administration had strongly resisted that position. It repeatedly argued that Sri Lanka Cricket was not a “public authority” and therefore had no legal obligation to provide information requested by citizens. However, the new Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee led by Eran Wickramaratne has changed that position. The committee has now accepted that the institution should remain open to public scrutiny under the RTI Act. (Morning Telegraph, 8.9.2026)

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