Win Projections to be updated soon
Rawalpindi, 18 November 2025:
Sri Lanka’s stand-in T20I captain Dasun Shanaka expressed confidence and clarity of purpose as his side prepares to take on Pakistan and Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series starting tomorrow in Rawalpindi.
Speaking to the media on the eve of the series, Shanaka acknowledged the team’s recent struggles in the ODI format but emphasised the clean slate and fresh opportunities that T20 cricket offers.
On Sri Lanka’s approach after the ODI series defeat, Shanaka said:
“We know we didn’t perform well in the ODI series, but that is part of the game. T20 cricket is a completely different format, much faster and more dynamic, and we are prepared for that challenge. Our focus is on correcting the intent we lacked in the ODIs. The players understand what went wrong and I’m confident we will bounce back strongly.”
On squad changes and player availability, he said:
“Yes, we have made a few changes. Players like Kusal Janith, Bhanu and Nuwan Thushara have joined the squad. At the same time, we are dealing with a couple of illness-related concerns in the camp, but we are hopeful those players will recover soon. Regardless, we have enough depth to compete well.”
Shanaka highlighted the importance of balancing youth and experience within the side.
“We need to get the maximum out of our experienced players while also allowing our young talent to express themselves. We didn’t finish well in the Asia Cup, but we played some good cricket there. We could have made the final if a couple of moments had gone our way. Now, we are here to make a statement, and I believe this group can do that.”
On the short turnaround from ODIs to T20Is, the captain said:
“The turnaround is short, but that is international cricket. In the ODIs, our intent was missing and we doubted ourselves at crucial stages. In T20 cricket, especially on these pitches, our batters need to express themselves to put up big scores. I’m sure we will rectify our mistakes.”
Discussing priorities against Pakistan, he added:
“All three disciplines matter equally. We need to post competitive totals, execute better with the ball, and our catching must be at 100 percent. These were areas where we fell short in the ODIs, and we aim to improve immediately.”
Shanaka also outlined Sri Lanka’s potential strengths in the tri-series.
“Our opening pair and spin attack did well in the ODIs. For T20s, we have the right mix across all departments—pace, spin and batting. The important thing will be converting starts into match-winning contributions.”
On Pakistan’s recent T20 progress, Shanaka said:
“Recently, I feel Pakistan are peaking at the right time ahead of the T20 World Cup, and they are building a strong side. But for us, it’s more about focusing on our own game and preparing well for February. We are ready for the challenge.”
Speaking about winter conditions in Rawalpindi, he added:
“The weather is very different from Sri Lanka, and we are not used to winter conditions. But as international players, we have experienced various climates around the world. We are ready for whatever comes our way.”
Shanaka concluded by expressing Sri Lanka’s overall optimism ahead of the competition.
“We are very confident. T20 cricket is a different game altogether, and I believe we have the right elements in our squad to perform well in this format.”
The T20I tri-series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will run from 18 to 29 November at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with the first ball to be bowled at 6pm local time.
